McDonald’s, WNBA star team up for the Angel Reese Special

WNBA star and Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese is teaming up with McDonald’s to release the Angel Reese Special – a Barbecue Bacon Quarter Pounder with Cheese featuring a new barbecue sauce, as well as fries, and a drink.

The chain has a history with basketball collaborations, from its classic 1980s Michael Jordan commercial to the McDonald’s All American Games. The Angel Reese Special marks its first meal collaboration with a female athlete and is available starting Feb. 10 for a limited time.

“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,” Reese said in a statement. “It’s really a dream come true to be the first-ever female athlete to have my own meal and be a part of McDonald’s amazing basketball legacy. I hope the Angel Reese Special inspires young athletes everywhere to never give up on pursuing their dreams.”

The new barbecue sauce was created for the meal, blending sweet and savory flavors with a hint of spice. Also to promote the new meal, McDonald’s will release content paying tribute to its hoops history while highlighting legends and future stars.

“There’s a real connection between McDonald’s and basketball fans,” McDonald’s vice president of marketing, brand, content and culture Jennifer “JJ” Healan said in a statement. “We want to continue to fuel their love for the game and support athletes on and off the court. We’re excited to bring our legacy with basketball culture to a new generation, and partnering with Angel is only the beginning.”

McDonald’s has had a tremendous amount of success in the past several years with its celebrity meals, starting in 2020 with the Famous Orders launch featuring rapper/musician Travis Scott.

Angel Reese was the seventh overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and has since become one of the five most popular players in terms of merchandise sales. The former Louisiana State University Tiger also has endorsement deals with Reebok, Reese's, Beats by Dre, and more. With the Angel Reese Special, McDonald’s is also leveraging the rising popularity of the WNBA, which experienced a 155% increase in viewership year-over-year in 2023.