Basketball fans, gear up and get ready to feast, because McDonald’s is teaming up with Angel Reese to release the latest celebrity meal: the Angel Reese Special, featuring a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a brand new barbecue sauce.
Reese is the first female athlete to have her own McDonald’s celebrity meal, a tradition where celebrities customize an original entree paired with specific sides and market their meal using their name and status. McDonald’s started celebrity meals to increase brand awareness with younger audiences by partnering with stars recognized by later generations. Reese is certainly a good pick, as her popularity amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha basketball fans is ever-growing.
Who is Angel Reese?
Angel Reese is a basketball player for the Chicago Sky. The 22-year-old forward is known for her ferocious playing style and rebounding skills. As the 7th pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, Reese made her name playing for the Maryland Terrapins and later the Louisiana State University Tigers, where she was eventually nicknamed the “Bayou Barbie.”
What’s in the Angel Reese Special?
The Angel Reese Special includes a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese, which uses an “all-new BBQ sauce as bold as Bayou Barbie herself,” according to McDonald’s. Served with medium fries and a medium drink, this combo meal’s smoky and complex flavors are sure to please. Reese decided to partner with McDonald’s because of the company’s significance in life, both food- and career-wise.
“McDonald’s has always been a big part of my life, from grabbing a McChicken sandwich as a kid to being named a McDonald’s All American in 2020,” she said in a statement.
When will this be available?
The Angel Reese Special is set to release on February 10. Until then, fans can rewatch Reese’s highlight reels while indulging in McDonald’s regular menu.
What are some previous McDonald’s celebrity meals?
McDonald’s celebrity meals began in 1992 with basketball legend Michael Jordan through the McJordan Special. After a long hiatus in these celebrity meals, McDonald’s brought them back in 2020, partnering with rapper Travis Scott. Since then, McDonald’s has only worked with musicians: J Balvin, BTS, Saweetie, Mariah Carey, and most recently, Cardi B and Offset.
Angel Reese is the first female athlete to have this partnership with McDonald’s. As a member of the 2024 WNBA class that is continuously breaking women’s basketball records and bringing the WNBA to the mainstream, it seems that Reese is pioneering in other areas, as well.
Although the Angel Reese Special will be sold in McDonald’s locations on February 10, it is unknown how long the celebrity meal will be in store for. Once it releases, make sure to hurry and grab a bite before it’s gone!