Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers Are Giving Fans a Lesson in Friendship

Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers have a lot in common: they're both top draft picks, they're both cultural icons, and they're both really good at cultivating a fanbase. Both Reese and Bueckers have built distinct brands centered around their talent and authenticity. And because of it, their individual reach extends far beyond the world of women's basketball. Reese just walked the Victoria's Secret runway (the first professional athlete to do so!), while Bueckers's TikTok has become an unofficial ledger for every endorsement deal she's ever made, from beauty brands to car retailers. Separately, they've raked in millions from NIL deals and pro league partnerships (necessary, considering the WNBA salary gap). But together, they're a powerhouse - and they know it. "Everybody wanted us to do something together." That's how their latest partnership with Reeses and Oreo came about, which launched a dual brand creation: the milk chocolate and white creme peanut butter cups. It's what "the Paigel fans" wanted, Bueckers tells Popsugar during a joint interview with Reese. To clarify, Paigel is Reese and Bueckers's joint fanbase name, and this isn't the last you've seen of it. The Paigel collab demands first started during WNBA All-Star Weekend, Reese says. The two played (and won!) together on Team Collier, and gave fans a BTS look at their friendship through pre-game dance videos and locker room TikToks. They didn't expect those social posts to hit so hard, but soon their comments section and DMs were flooded with Paigel collab requests. "Everybody wanted us to do something together," Reese says. So they had to give the people what they wanted. "I may have a slight peanut allergy, but I'll still be supporting Angel and Paige so there's that," one fan wrote on social media about the candy collab. "The aunties are proud 🥹🥹🥹" wrote another under Reese's announcement post. This kind of positive reception and brand opportunity is what past generations worked tirelessly to bring about, Bueckers points out. "I think everything is about the people who came before us and paved the way and set the foundation for what we're able to do now," she says. Reese agrees, noting that the media attention and brand partnership requests WNBA players are getting today is long overdue. "A lot of great players before us have done these great things, they just didn't have the platform," Reese says. "I think it's really important for us to be able to do what they deserve and give them the flowers that they deserve." Both she and Bueckers are adamant about making the most of their opportunities - they're determined to support each other both individually and as partners, in this collab and the next (fingers crossed). "I think it gives a leeway for what the W is looking like nowadays: being able to have a healthy competition, playing against somebody that's so great, but also just being friends off the court and being able to do these iconic collabs," Reese says. There's room for everyone to win, Reese says, noting that their influence extends far beyond the paint. "I think this is really important to know that we're not just basketball players, we're more and we're gonna continue to grow our brand on and off the court." Alexis Jones (she/her) is the section lead of the health and fitness verticals at Popsugar, overseeing coverage across the website, social media, and newsletters. In her seven-plus years of editorial experience, Alexis has developed passions for and expertise in mental health, women's health and fitness, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women's Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.