It must be hard being a millionaire celebrity while also trying to have a “normal” college life, because according to LSU women’s basketball star and viral sports influencer Angel Reese, she’s so popular that she has had to resort to taking her course load online in order to avoid fans on campus.
Angel Reese via The Pivot Podcast YouTube, screenshot
In an interview with Teen Vogue, the LSU Tigers forward stated that she never anticipated having her profile blow up so much in the past year. Kinda weird because you’d think having a net worth of $3 million off of NIL deals would involve a degree of potentially annoying fans.
“I didn’t think I was going to be on Shade Room every time I post something,” said Reese, who went especially viral in April for invoking WWE superstar John Cena’s infamous “you can’t see me” hand wave at one of her opponents.
“I don’t feel like I’m a celebrity, but I think a lot of people look at me as a celebrity now because of the impact I’ve had on not just women’s basketball, but sports in general, and Black women,” she added. “Things have changed for me.”
Reese is in the same situation as popular LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne, who also opted to take all her credits online because of the unwanted attention she was getting on campus.
She has made it clear she isn’t slacking off or losing focus on what made her so famous though, and despite all distractions she knows she can’t lose her basketball edge.
“School’s first, basketball is next,” said Reese. “I wouldn’t be here without school and basketball, so that’s my priority.”
don’t tell me that you model if you ain’t been in Vogue or whatever Drake said. Thank you @TeenVogue pic.twitter.com/6F8NeFGNPa
— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) August 23, 2023
She also has confirmed that she wants to play in the WNBA, unlike some other female athletes who have decided to not take part in the WNBA draft so they can finish school and continue to make boat-loads of cash from NIL deals.
Reese has used her notoriety to give back to her community; she recently hosted a back-to-school block party at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, offering school supplies, food, and entertainment.
After leading LSU to its first national title, Reese is set to guide her team in their title defense next season.