Why does Angel Reese wear one leg sleeve? Sky rookie’s fashion choice takes inspiration from A’ja Wilson

Angel Reese 05072024

(NBA Getty Images)

As one of the most prominent players in women’s basketball, everything that Angel Reese does draws attention.

The Sky rookie can captivate audiences with just one move. In addition to her play, she’s about as stylish as they come, on and off the floor.

The 22-year-old forward puts her best foot forward when it comes to gameday attire. And few items in her wardrobe are as iconic as her leg sleeve.

It should come as little surprise that Reese — a 2024 Met Gala attendee — would stand out even on the court with her fashion sense. But why does she wear the single legging? Here’s the scoop on Reese’s decision to rock one leg sleeve during her games.

Why does Angel Reese wear one leg sleeve?

Reese’s commitment to the single leg sleeve is both practical and symbolic.

The No. 7 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft uses the piece of attire in part due to an injury she suffered during her college career.

As a freshman at Maryland, Reese suffered a Jones fracture in her left foot. The injury limited her to just 15.3 minutes per game, and she eventually underwent surgery to have a rod inserted into her leg.

The injury itself hasn’t hampered her career — she transferred to LSU before her junior season, won the 2023 national title and parlayed her success into a first-round selection in the 2024 WNBA Draft. But the surgery did leave Reese with a scar, one she prefers to hide during games.

That’s reason No. 1 behind the leg sleeve. But Reese also credits a pair of WNBA players — A’ja Wilson and Te’a Cooper — as inspirations for her fashion choice.

“I cover the scar for one, then my two players that I really admire, Te’a Cooper and A’ja Wilson, they also wear it, too,” Reese said during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. “So it’s swag. But I’ve used it to cover my scar.”

Cooper played for the Sparks from 2020-21 but has not played in the league since then. But she maintains a loyal fashion following as the founder and CEO of Hollywood Luxury Hair.

Wilson has won back-to-back titles with the Aces in the last two seasons. She has rocked the one-legging look since her rookie season in 2018 and helped to popularize the look.