Angel Reese: Family Foundation and the Journey to Basketball Stardom
The story of Angel Reese’s rise to basketball prominence cannot be told without understanding the profound influence of her family, particularly her mother Angel Webb Reese, who laid the foundation for what would become one of the most compelling journeys in women’s basketball today. Born on May 6, 2002, in Randallstown, Maryland, Angel Reese was introduced to the sport of basketball early on by her parents – Angel Webb and Michael Reese, both of whom had their own distinguished basketball careers that would significantly shape their daughter’s athletic destiny.
Angel has basketball woven into her DNA, as both of her parents spent time on the court during their youth, creating an environment where athletic excellence was not just encouraged but naturally cultivated through daily exposure to the sport’s demands and rewards. Her mom played for the University of Maryland before going professional in Luxembourg, while Michael played for Boston College before he transferred to Loyola University in Maryland and played overseas, demonstrating the high level of basketball talent that ran through the family lineage and would eventually manifest in Angel’s own exceptional abilities.
The early years of Angel’s life were marked by a diverse athletic foundation that extended far beyond basketball, as she practiced dance, swimming, and athletics, in addition to basketball, providing her with a well-rounded physical development that would later contribute to her versatility and coordination on the basketball court. Raised around basketball—her mother played for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and professionally in Luxembourg—Reese started playing at age 4 and took up the sport as her primary activity, marking the beginning of a journey that would transform a young girl’s natural athletic gifts into professional-level skills.
The family dynamics that shaped Angel’s character were particularly influenced by her mother’s role as a single parent, as Reese was born in a modest family in Maryland and was raised by a single mother – Angel Webb Reese, with her father, Michael Reese, not sharing a very close relationship with his daughter. Reese grew up watching her mother play basketball every Sunday in a local league, and after their parents separated, she witnessed how her mother managed to raise her and her brother Julian as single parents, learning valuable lessons about perseverance, dedication, and the importance of maintaining one’s passion despite life’s challenges.
The basketball environment in the Reese household was one of constant competition and motivation, as Reese initially played with her brother Julian in the driveway as a kid, fostering a competitive spirit that would become one of her defining characteristics throughout her career. Growing up in a household full of competitive siblings inevitably shaped Angel into the basketball player she is today, as a child, Angel was motivated by the daily interactions with family members who understood the game’s intricacies and could provide both technical guidance and emotional support.
The transition from childhood play to serious basketball development occurred during Angel’s early years when she began to show exceptional promise, though she initially played at the point guard position before experiencing two growth spurts during her first year of high school, which would fundamentally change her playing style and position on the court. She also struggled with body image and self-esteem because of her above-average height, facing the common challenges that many young athletes encounter when their physical development outpaces their peers, requiring emotional resilience and family support to navigate these formative years.
The educational foundation that complemented Angel’s athletic development was established at Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore, where Angel was raised in Randallstown, Md., and grew up playing basketball at Saint Frances Academy, a Catholic school in Baltimore, providing her with both academic structure and competitive basketball experience. “Our school was literally across the street from a prison,” she told Women’s Health in February 2024, “I was lucky enough to have skills and be able to” transcend the challenging environment through her athletic talents, demonstrating how basketball became not just a passion but a pathway to better opportunities.
The influence of Angel’s mother extended beyond just introducing her to basketball, as her mom was the one who motivated Angel to start playing the sport after she recognized her daughter’s natural athletic abilities and competitive drive. Reese routinely speaks in press conferences or on social media about her mother, who worked vigorously to raise Reese and provide for the family, acknowledging the sacrifices and dedication that made her basketball journey possible and shaped her understanding of hard work and determination.
The family’s basketball legacy continues to influence Angel’s career, as Angel Reese’s parents both played college basketball as did several other family members, including Reese’s younger brother, Julian, who, like her and their mom, has played for the University of Maryland, creating a multi-generational connection to the sport that provides ongoing support and understanding of the challenges and rewards of competitive basketball.
Looking back at Angel Reese’s formative years, it becomes clear that her success was not merely the result of individual talent but rather the product of a carefully cultivated family environment that emphasized athletic excellence, academic achievement, and personal resilience, with a childhood dominated by hoops serving as the foundation for her eventual rise to national prominence in college basketball and her current success in the WNBA, where she continues to honor the legacy of determination and excellence that her family instilled in her from the very beginning.