Angel Reese Gets the Nod in NBA 2K26 Cover Reveal
The NBA 2K26 cover reveal made waves last week and not just because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the face of the standard edition. It was Angel Reese, not Caitlin Clark, who landed the WNBA cover, sparking debate among fans.
Given Clark’s popularity and explosive rookie year, many expected her to be the obvious choice. But NBA 2K GM Zak Armitage told TMZ the selection of Reese was deliberate and deeply symbolic.
“NBA 2K26 is celebrating the bold, the confident, and the visionaries,” Armitage said. “Angel Reese carries all that on and off the court.”
He added that Reese is not only a rising star on the court, but she’s helping push the women’s game forward through storytelling, cultural influence, and off-court leadership.
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Breaking Records and Expanding the Brand
Reese’s résumé this season is undeniable. The 23-year-old became the fastest WNBA player to record 700+ points and 700+ rebounds, along with reaching 40 double-doubles quicker than anyone before her.
Off the court, she’s built an empire. Her podcast, Unapologetically Angel, launched just last year, already has over 140,000 subscribers. On Instagram alone, Reese commands a following of 5 million, making her one of the league’s most marketable stars.
Last year, she challenged the narrative that Caitlin Clark alone grew the WNBA’s audience. And now? She’s proving it with results and recognition.
The 2K26 cover was just one of two major wins for Reese last week. The second? The launch of her signature shoe — Reebok Angel Reese 1. Reese wore the sneaker on the game cover itself, marking a double-milestone moment.
Sabrina Ionescu, the 2K24 cover star, praised Reese for the “iconic” combo.
“She launched her shoe and was on the cover, that’s knocking two birds with one stone,” Ionescu said.
It caps off a huge month for Reese, who was just named Player of the Week, earned her second straight All-Star selection, and is averaging 18.0 points and 13.5 rebounds in July.
Angel Reese may not have the same media engine behind her as Clark, but she’s carving her own legacy. And now, she’s doing it on the cover of one of the biggest video game franchises in the world.
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