Basketball star Angel Reese opens up about relationship with Shaq

Former Louisiana State University basketball player Angel Reese is holding her own on the courts as she continues her rise to fame.

The young athlete recently entered the WNBA draft following her college basketball career which doesn’t come much of a surprise as the Chicago Sky scooped her up fast.

But speaking of professional basketball and fame, Reese also has the pleasure of calling none other than NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal a father figure in her life.

• Angel Reese tells of horrific Caitlin Clark insult she received from fan after snubbing autograph

• Caitlin Clark forces Angel Reese fan Shaquille O'Neal into surprise U-turn

The pair first met in February 2023 when Angel hosted Shaq’s daughter Me’Arah during an official visit to LSU.

Before a game against Mississippi State, Shaq challenged Angel to score 20 points and get 20 rebounds but smashed his expectations when she scored 23 points and 26 rebounds.

O’Neal himself is a LSU alum, and the father-daughter relationship only blossomed when Angel asked him to escort her on Senior Day—an honor usually reserved for family members.

"He’s super inspiring to me," she told USA Today.

• Angel Reese roasted as she learns tough WNBA lesson while Chicago Sky's playoff hopes dwindle

• Angel Reese backs Simone Biles in social media spat with MyKayla Skinner with simple statement

"He’s so genuine; he’s been there for me through tough times. He just gets it, and there’s not a more perfect person for me to be tight with. We have fun, and if I need anything, he would help me, and he would do that even if I never played basketball again. He doesn’t care about me as a player; he cares about me as a person.”

What some don’t actually know is that Angel’s parents also played professional basketball.

Angel’s mother—also called Angel—played for the University of Maryland before joining a pro team in Luxembourg.

While her father, Michael Reese, played basketball at Boston College and Loyola University before playing for a professional basketball team overseas as well.

As Angel continues to garner major attention, one thing is for sure—the game is in her DNA. She was born to ball.

For the latest local news and features on Irish America, visit our homepage here .