Every night is girls’ night as the WNBA enters the world of Barbie with Chicago hosting a themed party
CHICAGO — The WNBA made its return to the Barbie world with Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky hosting the first doll-themed game.
Reese, known as Bayou Barbie in college and now Chi-Town Barbie, told reporters Friday night before a Defeat against Indiana that the WNBA’s association with Barbie is “exciting.”
“Just being able to see so many little girls in the crowd already dressed in their Barbie outfits – it’s going to be a great night for women’s basketball,” Reese said.
“It’s incredible to know that I’m having an impact on a name that’s gone from something so small in Baton Rouge to such a global name. And it’s a blessing. Obviously, I didn’t know when I came to Chicago what my expectations were, just coming in and being just a rookie, just being able to enjoy every moment and get better every day.”
Pink towels were draped over the backs of the arena seats and songs from the movie “Barbie” played during intermissions. There was also a pregame panel discussion on women in leadership and fans received either a Barbie sherpa fanny pack or a Hawaiian shirt. It was the 65th anniversary of Barbie’s first appearance.
“We want to showcase the power of igniting imagination, empathy, confidence and self-expression in the next generation, continuing Barbie’s mission to inspire girls’ limitless potential,” said Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel.
Quinn, 10, who dressed in pink for the Barbie party even though the young Chicagoan doesn’t really like Barbies, said she was excited to see Reese and Caitlin Clark of Indiana perform.
The two rookies didn’t disappoint as Reese recorded her 23rd double-double, breaking the WNBA record for first-year players. Clark scored 31 points to help her team secure the win.
Quinn said she loves basketball because “anyone can win on any given day”:
WNBA superstar Sue Bird had a Barbie doll published in his honor this yearpresented the company’s new campaign “Deliver Unlimited Possibilities.”
“The beauty of Barbies is that you can personalize the experience,” Bird said in an interview with the AP. “You play with Barbies and use your imagination and creativity based on how you feel at that moment. That’s kind of the beauty of it.”
Bird said she played with Barbies when she was younger and was honored to be the first WNBA player to have one since Rebecca Lobo in 1998. She also felt the WNBA is a good representation of Barbie’s world with its diversity.
“There are so many different women in the WNBA,” said Bird, who is co-host of the podcast A Touch More. “There’s a whole variety of different people and I think it can be really inspiring for young people to watch and connect with them. It’s the same with Barbie as a whole, there’s so many different Barbies to play with and inspire creativity in younger people.”
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Feinberg reported from New York.
___ Savage is a reporter on the Women in the Workforce team. Associated Press coverage of women in the workforce and state government receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. The AP is solely responsible for all content. standards to work with philanthropic organizations, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
