Dodge. Charge. Jump. Layup. Like every perfect machine, ballers too have a routine and idiosyncratic methods behind their exceptional skills. Whether it was the NBA legend Michael Jordan wearing UNC shorts below his Chicago Bulls jersey or the University of Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley wearing his dragon undies. Similarly, the WNBA sensation Angel Reese too has a unique thing attached to her play – it’s her one-legged costume.

But is it a superstition or a fashion statement? Considering Reese’s glamorous side, the one-legged sleeve could also be helping her represent her charismatic personality. For starters, it is not a superstition.

Angel Reese’s injury forced her to wear a sleeve

Reese had suffered a Jones fracture during her freshman year when she used to ply her trade for the Maryland Terrapins. A rod was inserted inside Reese’s leg and therefore to cover up for her scars she dons a one-legged sleeve.

Reese had come out to accept that it was a scar mark that covered up with the sleeve. She said, “I’ve used it to cover my scar. I had surgery two years ago on my shin. I have a rod in my leg. Many people don’t know that.”

Reese had actually made a layup when she landed on her toe which hurt a little. And this made her realize that she had a fracture. But her fans took it as a fashion statement and started donning the purple sleeve Reese used to wear when playing for the Louisiana State University Lady Tigers. Reese was aware of her impact as she too had started taking her sleeve as a mark of her fashion styling.

Angel Reese turned obstacles into opportunity

Reese had also revealed back then two of the stars she looked up to wore the sleeve. “two players that I really admire, Te’a Cooper and A’ja Wilson, they also wear it, too,” Reese had stated. While Wilson wore the leg sleeve in 2019, Cooper used to don it in 2019 at Baylor University. 

As per the WNBA website, Wilson uses the leg sleeve to keep herself warm and ready for games as it might need her to charge rapidly both in offense and defense. “I tuck my jersey in my sports bra and my shirt into my spandex because I love the cute tight look and my leg sleeve,” Wilson had enunciated.

Therefore, Reese wears the sleeve both as a style statement and to hide her scar. And her popularity has got a lot of balling fans trying to be like her both in style and skills. Which other athletes would you want to emulate? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.