For 27 years, Nike sat out the Super Bowl, waiting for the perfect moment to return. That moment? Caitlin Clark. Her latest win didn’t come from a step-back three or a flashy assist but from the biggest stage in American sports. When Nike finally broke its Super Bowl drought, they made it big with some of the elite female athletes, the 2024 ROTY one among them. But as the ad aired, another debate tipped off. Angel Reese would have made a good addition to the roster.

The excitement kicked off when Clark Report shared the commercial on X, captioned: “Caitlin Clark shows out in Nike’s first Super Bowl commercial in 27 years.”

Besides the Indiana Fever star, the ad featured Sabrina Ionescu, A’ja Wilson, JuJu Watkins, Jordan Chiles, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Aryna Sabalenka. The message was clear– they say you can’t do it, do it anyway. Set to Led Zeppelin’s 1969 single “Whole Lotta Love” and narrated by rapper Doechii, the ad encourages to block out the noise and break the barriers.

It was a powerful message that even had WNBA legend Lisa Leslie admitting it was the best commercial she had seen on the Super Bowl 59 night. Chief marketing officer Nicole Hubbard Graham revealed the release was planned to reach the masses only a stage like this could provide. With women’s sports gaining traction more than ever, she believes the athletes are on the path to redefining their position and personalities for the future.

Angel Reese, one of those to have majorly brought audience and viewership to women’s basketball, seemed like a potential addition to the crew, according to fans. But given her ties to Reebok, she had to miss this one out. “Shaq told me I was going to be the face of Reebok, and I continue to be that,” Reese had said previously, confident as ever. While the Chi-Town Barbie remains unaffected, fans hope for a different picture.

Fans react to Angel Reese’s absence in Nike’s Super Bowl ad

One fan took to X, saying: “I am absolutely outraged that Angel Reese was not a part of the #SuperBowl commercial featuring Caitlin Clark. Disgraceful…” The outrage—whether genuine or sarcastic—missed a crucial detail: Nike made the ad, and Reese is signed with Reebok. Another fan quickly swooped in, pointing out the obvious, “Pssst, she is not sponsored by them. Reebok girl.”

While Nike doubled down on Clark, Reebok made its move in October 2024 by signing Angel Reese to a multi-year endorsement deal. According to ESPN, the deal includes a signature shoe slated for release in 2026, making Reese one of only six active WNBA players with a signature sneaker.

“Reebok and Angel are growing together every day, and our visions for the future are aligned,” said Jide Osifeso, Reebok’s head of basketball. “We’re excited to continue this relationship and build her signature silhouette from the ground up.” Reese, the No. 7 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, is the only current WNBA player with a Reebok signature shoe. The rivalry might live on between fans, but both Clark and Reese have carved out their own lanes—one in Nike’s empire, the other in Reebok’s resurgence.

One fan shared their thoughts: “Angel Reese really should have been a Nike girl. I get wanting to do things different…but…” But Reese is clear on why she’s doing things her way.

“I wanted to be a priority, because I could have signed easily with Nike,” Reese shared in an old post on X. “I could’ve signed with Jordan. But like, everybody’s doing that. I don’t like doing what everybody does.”

Another fan posted, “I wish Angel Reese and CoCo were signed to Nike,” but Reese isn’t here for the mainstream route. Just like 20-year-old Coco Gauff, who signed with New Balance at 14 and became the face of the Coco CG1, Reese is blazing her own trail.

“My momma was mad that Angel Reese wasn’t in the Nike commercials with all the girls. I had to inform her that our girl is signed with Reebok. She always ready to ride for Barbie.” Reese may have missed out on the Nike commercial, but she’s been making waves elsewhere, too. Just recently, on January 30, McDonald’s announced a partnership with Reese to drop the “Angel Reese Special,” marking the brand’s first national meal collab with a female athlete.

There were a few others who noted the Sky star would have hated not having the chance to feature in the commercial. But her fans were right there to defend her. “The amount of people bringing up Angel Reese after that Nike commercial saying she’s mad she wasn’t in it, like she’s not a Reebok athlete. They’re obsessed with her! They miss her presence when she’s not on the scene. Their favs don’t satiate them enough.”

It’s understandable that Reese wasn’t in the Nike Super Bowl ad, but let’s not forget—she’s about to become one of the select few in the WNBA to rock a signature shoe. And not just any signature shoe—this is a Reebok-exclusive sneaker!

In October 2024, Reese made a major announcement on her podcast: “I’m extremely excited to let you guys know that we are officially coming out with a Reebok by Angel signature shoe!” She went on, “We’ve already kicked off the design process, and it means the world to me to have Reebok’s full support and confidence in this shoe and overall partnership. A signature shoe has always been a dream of mine, and I want all the young girls out there to remember that anything is possible.”

Reese may have missed the commercial spotlight, but she’s stepping into her own legacy with a sneaker that’ll leave a mark!