“Happy birthday son! I love youuu,” Angel Reese wrote a year ago—yes, she has a baby boy, and he just turned two.
But before she could fully lean into the joy of Tiago’s second birthday, Reese had to shake off one of her quieter nights on the floor. In a 79–52 blowout loss to the Indiana Fever, she finished with just four points on 2-of-7 shooting. The Sky struggled across the board—but even on nights like that, life has a way of reminding you what really matters.
Hours later, Reese posted a sweet Instagram story featuring Tiago riding shotgun on her Louis Vuitton bag, captioned: “You’re so big now @tiago.king mommy loves you!” For anyone new to the Angel Reese orbit, yes—Tiago is her baby. Just not the kind you’re probably picturing.
Tiago King Reese is a Yorkshire Terrier with a big personality, his own Instagram account, and a custom LSU jersey. Reese first brought him home during her LSU days in 2023, back when she was still dating fellow hooper Cam’Ron Fletcher. The two split in March 2024, but Tiago? He stayed. Some breakups come with custody battles—this one clearly didn’t.
Tiago made his Instagram debut with the caption, “So happy to be home with my new mommy & daddy! My name is Tiago,” and quickly gained thousands of followers. Since then, he’s been Angel’s constant through title runs, WNBA milestones, and long road trips. Last year, on his first birthday, Reese wrote: “My first baby! Finally 1. I love my fur baby so much. Happy Birthday to my Sonnnnnnn.”
Now, at two, Tiago’s still front and center in her life, and on a night where the scoreboard offered no comfort, that little tail wag and big puppy eyes reminded Reese: wins don’t always come in box scores. Sometimes, they’re riding home in your designer bag.
With Vandersloot out, Tiago grounds Reese through the Sky’s struggles
And Reese has needed those small moments of joy more than ever lately. The Sky’s rocky regular-season start has been made even harder by the absence of their on-court general, Courtney Vandersloot, whose steady leadership helped them claim early wins against Dallas.
After Vandersloot’s injury, Reese’s frustration grew, culminating in a tough loss to a Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever. In that game, Reese finished with just four points on 2-of-7 shooting, though she battled for 12 rebounds and handed out two assists. The Sky never led, falling 79–52 in a night that underscored their struggles.
Tiago King Reese via Angel Reese/Instagram
Just hours before sharing a post about Tiago, Reese quietly paid tribute to Vandersloot with a simple “Love you 22.” That message hinted at the emotional weight she was carrying, missing the teammate who anchors her team and steadies their spirits. But amid that turmoil, there’s been one constant source of comfort: Tiago.
Tiago is more than a pet; he’s Reese’s grounding force. When the noise of the loss and the pressure of the season threaten to overwhelm, Tiago’s presence reminds her to keep running, keep pushing. Last year, she sang to him before heading off to a game, captioning an Instagram story, “Had to sing to him before I left.” Months later, a clip of Tiago gleefully stomping across her Louis Vuitton bag went viral, with SI.com noting, “Angel Reese’s furry friend is overly happy to see mom.”
For Angel Reese, when the scoreboard disappoints and emotions run high, Tiago still claps with his paws, reminding her that sometimes the biggest wins come off the court.
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