The WNBA is undergoing a period of exponential growth, both on and off the court. The arrival of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky star Angel Reese has not only led to league expansion and new media deals for the league as a whole, but it has also created opportunities for players to market themselves off the court.
In October, Reese even walked in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
“I literally could not stop smiling!” Reese said of the opportunity, according to Awful Announcing. “It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment — just last year I was in the audience manifesting being on that runway, completely inspired and in awe of all the powerful women walking down the runway, and now I get to return as an Angel. This will be an unforgettable night that I’ll forever be grateful for.”
“I hope I can inspire women and girls everywhere and remind them that we can dominate in our field but also chase our goals outside of it — and for me, that’s getting to walk down fashion and entertainment’s most iconic runway,” Reese continued.
Now, another female black professional basketball player has gotten a major opportunity. WNBA free agent Kysre Gondrezick has modeled for Playboy Magazine.
Unfortunately, some fans were seemingly outraged over the news and did their best to downplay the achievement.
“She has done it. There is no settling life for her,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“‘professional athlete’ come on that is a big stretch in 2025,” someone else wrote.
“Was only a matter of time,” another person wrote.
Hopefully, fans come around and allow women to market themselves the same way men do, without trying to tear them down.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.