CHICAGO — The gamble was massive. The hype was deafening. When Shaquille O’Neal, the President of Reebok Basketball, hand-picked Angel Reese as the face of the brand’s revival, the vision was clear: she was supposed to be the modern-day Allen Iverson. She was marketed as the cultural icon who would bring grit, swagger, and dominance back to the hardwood.

Instead, less than two years later, that vision appears to be in ruins.

Breaking reports indicate that Reebok has officially cut ties with the Chicago Sky forward, cancelling her upcoming signature shoe launch and distancing the brand from a player now being labeled a “quitter” by critics and insiders alike. The decision comes amidst a swirl of controversy involving abandoned teammates, mysterious injuries, and a reputation that has shifted from “Double-Double Queen” to what social media is ruthlessly dubbing the “Blooper Queen.”

The “Quitter” Narrative Takes Hold

The catalyst for this corporate divorce appears to be Reese’s conduct during the Chicago Sky’s disastrous 2025 campaign. With the team sitting at a dismal 8-24 record, accusations have surfaced that Reese “walked out” on her squad when things got ugly.

“She refuses to travel with the team,” one insider report claims. “Chicago is falling apart, and Reebok isn’t dumb enough to gamble their brand on a quitter.”

The contrast with her rival, Caitlin Clark, has become impossible to ignore. When Clark suffered injuries, she remained a fixture on the Indiana Fever bench—cheering, coaching, and traveling to every game. In stark opposition, Reese has been accused of “ghosting” the Sky, citing a back injury that many fans and pundits view with skepticism.

This isn’t an isolated incident, but rather a disturbing pattern. Critics point to 2023, when a “wrist injury” coincided with Clark pulling away in the Rookie of the Year race. Then came the Unrivaled league, where Reese reportedly skipped the championship game entirely. Now, with the Sky struggling, the “injury card” has been played again, leaving her teammates to fend for themselves.

Hype vs. Reality: The “Blooper” Problem

For a brand like Reebok, performance matters. Shaq compared Reese to Allen Iverson—a Hall of Famer who dragged a mediocre 76ers team to the NBA Finals on sheer will. But on the court, Reese’s efficiency has been abysmal.

Viral clips of Reese missing point-blank layups have flooded TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), often set to circus music. One particularly damaging sequence against the New York Liberty showed her missing four consecutive putbacks in 12 seconds, a clip that became the laughingstock of the sports world.

“Angel Reese is not the face of basketball; she’s the face of clown edits,” the report brutally noted.

Even her “good” games are under the microscope. In a recent blowout loss to the Washington Mystics (103-86), Reese posted 22 points and 13 rebounds. But a closer look reveals she shot a dismal 6-of-16 from the field, padding her stats with free throws while getting torched on defense by rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. The duo combined to make WNBA history at Reese’s expense, looking like seasoned vets while the “Chi-Town Barbie” looked lost in the paint.

The Leadership Void and Financial Fallout

Perhaps the most damning indictment of Reese’s value comes from the Chicago Sky’s performance without her. Analytics and eye tests alike suggest the team actually plays better when she sits. The offense has better spacing, the ball moves cleaner, and the “clogged paint” issues vanish.

“Your supposed franchise star sits out and the team’s offense looks better? That’s not leadership; that’s a liability,” the report stated.

Reebok’s decision is also driven by cold, hard economics. The “Angel Reese Effect” has failed to materialize in ticket sales. When fans believed they were getting a Clark vs. Reese showdown, tickets sold for upwards of $100. When news broke that Clark wasn’t playing—and Reese was the remaining draw—prices cratered to $5.

“No brand is dumb enough to keep their name attached to somebody who just walks away when it gets tough,” the report concluded.

A Cautionary Tale

The fall from grace has been swift. Just a year ago, Angel Reese was on top of the world, a national champion and a cultural phenomenon. Today, she faces a future where her biggest endorsement deal is gone, her team is reportedly exploring legal options regarding her refusal to play, and her reputation is in tatters.

WNBA legend Candace Parker seemed to sum up the league’s sentiment with a single social media comment on a Reese lowlight: the “eyes” emoji. No rant was needed. The veterans see it. The fans see it. And now, Reebok sees it.

The lesson is harsh but simple: You can’t build a legacy on internet fame alone. At some point, you have to show up, you have to lead, and you have to win. Angel Reese allegedly chose to walk away instead, and now, her sponsors are doing the same.