Angel Reese has never been afraid of bold statements, but her most recent comments ahead of the release of her first signature shoe with Reebok have ignited a storm of mixed reactions across the sports and sneaker world. The 22-year-old Chicago Sky power forward, now in her second year in the WNBA, is preparing for one of the biggest career milestones any athlete can achieve: the launch of her own sneaker line.

Yet, instead of taking a cautious approach, Reese has set the bar sky-high by directly comparing her vision for the “Angel Reese 1s” to the legendary success of Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans. In a recent interview with Elle, Reese explained her hopes for her debut shoe, saying she doesn’t want it to be seen as just another basketball sneaker but rather a cultural staple. “I want people to wear the Angel Reese 1s everywhere and just to be a household name,” she said. “Just like how they wear Jordans everywhere.” That single line—particularly putting her name alongside Jordan’s—was enough to spark widespread debate online.

Fans and critics alike questioned whether the young star was getting ahead of herself by daring to compare her first signature shoe to one of the most iconic sneaker lines in history. Michael Jordan, after all, didn’t just change basketball; he transformed the sneaker industry and street culture. His Air Jordan brand, born through his partnership with Nike, became such a phenomenon that it was eventually spun off into its own line, with Jordan himself serving as chairman. The shoes generated billions in revenue, and their influence stretched beyond sports into music, fashion, and everyday life. Even decades after his final game, Jordans remain among the most popular sneakers in the world.

The cultural pull was so powerful that, during the late 1980s and 1990s, stories of robberies and even violence over Air Jordans became common. As recently as earlier this year, nearly 2,000 pairs of Air Jordans worth close to half a million dollars were stolen from a train in Arizona, a reminder of how intense the demand still is. Against this backdrop, Reese’s ambition feels daring, if not audacious. Social media users reacted quickly after her comments began circulating, particularly when an image surfaced with her quote, “Jordans are for the past. My shoes are for the future.”

One person bluntly responded, “Stop playing,” while others asked her to “please stop.” Still, not everyone dismissed her confidence. Some fans admitted that while the Reese 1s were not going to dethrone Air Jordans anytime soon, they were impressed by the design. The sneakers, which will be available in multiple colorways including pink, drew praise for their aesthetic. One commenter even noted, “They aren’t bad looking,” suggesting that while the hype may not match Jordan’s, the shoes could still find a market. Nike and Reebok have been steadily building anticipation, releasing teasers of Reese wearing the sneakers during practice sessions and photo shoots.

On Instagram, the response has been significantly more positive, with fans leaving excited comments under the brand’s posts. One enthusiastic user even revealed the launch date, writing, “SURPRISE!! September 18 it’s go time,” adding fuel to the growing hype around the debut. Still, for all the excitement, the backlash hasn’t gone away. Some critics have accused Reese of overhyping herself too soon, especially given her young career. One harsh comment circulating on X read, “She might be the only person that deserves to be told to shut up and hoop.” Such criticism reflects the ongoing double standard often faced by women in sports, where confidence and ambition can be quickly framed as arrogance.

Regardless of the skepticism, there is no denying that Reese’s venture into signature sneakers marks an important moment, not just for her but also for the WNBA. Very few women’s basketball players have had the opportunity to release their own sneaker lines, and Reese is stepping into rare territory. Like Jordan before her, she will wear her signature sneakers during games, giving fans a chance to see them in action and potentially increasing their appeal.

Whether or not the Reese 1s ever achieve the cultural dominance of Air Jordans is beside the point for now. What matters is that Reese is aiming high, unafraid to put herself in the same conversation as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Her ambition may sound premature to some, but it also reflects a generational shift in how young stars view their influence and marketability. Reese is not just playing basketball; she is building a brand, one that she hopes can carry her influence well beyond the court. As September approaches, all eyes will be on the release of the Angel Reese 1s to see whether her bold prediction of becoming “the future” of sneakers will begin to take shape or if the comparisons to Jordan will remain a reminder of the steep mountain she has chosen to climb.