Angel Reese Faces Backlash Over Doll Story and Awkward Shot

WHO:

Fox News - Angel Reese, WNBA star, plays for the Atlanta Dream.

Daily Mail Sports - Mattel, the toy company that created the Barbie doll.

Sportskeeda - WNBA fans.

WHAT:

Fox News - Angel Reese claimed that no black Barbie dolls existed when she was a child.

Fox News - Reese scored 23 points on 10-19 shooting and had 16 rebounds in a game against the Las Vegas Aces.

Daily Mail Sports - Reese received her own Mattel Barbie doll in her Atlanta Dream uniform, wearing her No. 5 jersey.

Sportskeeda - Reese became the first WNBA player to receive her own signature Barbie doll.

WHERE:

Fox News - The game took place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Daily Mail Sports - The event was part of a "Barbie Night" celebration.

WHEN:

Fox News - The game against the Las Vegas Aces occurred on August 3, 2026.

Sportskeeda - The "Barbie Night" event was celebrated on the same day as the game.

WHY:

Fox News - Reese expressed a desire for dolls that looked like her, stating, "Honestly, I didn’t have a lot of dolls because I didn’t have dolls that really looked like me much."

HOW:

Fox News - The Atlanta Dream celebrated Reese's signature Barbie doll with a themed game event.

Angel Reese, the WNBA star playing for the Atlanta Dream, made headlines recently after scoring 23 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a game against the Las Vegas Aces, part of a special "Barbie Night" celebration at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. During this event, Reese received her own Mattel Barbie doll dressed in her Atlanta Dream uniform, making her the first WNBA player to achieve this honor, which she noted was significant because she grew up without dolls that resembled her. Reese expressed her excitement, sharing that she always wanted dolls that looked like her, highlighting the importance of representation in toys.