The Barbie aisle at Target has seen its share of celebrity visitors over the years, from Cher to Lucille Ball to, more recently, Sue Bird. But the latest arrival comes with a twist that speaks to the increasingly layered nature of modern sports marketing: Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky forward, has been rendered in 11.5-inch form wearing not just her Atlanta Dream uniform but also a miniature pair of her own signature basketball shoes.

The doll, part of Mattel's Barbie Signature collection, was introduced during W.N.B.A. All-Star weekend and sold out quickly at Target, Walmart, Amazon and Mattel's own site. Ms. Reese is the first Black W.N.B.A. player to receive the Barbie treatment, and only the second W.N.B.A. player overall, following Ms. Bird.

The footwear in question — the Angel Reese 1, from Reebok — is the centerpiece of a collaboration that extends beyond the doll itself. The adult version of the shoes sells for $160; a children's size is available for $130. A limited-edition apparel capsule, developed jointly by Ms. Reese and Mattel, includes a custom jersey and co-branded headwear.

(One imagines Mattel's licensing department working overtime to ensure that both the Reebok swoosh and the Barbie logo appeared in acceptable proportions on a two-inch tongue.)

Nathan Baynard, vice president and head of Barbie at Mattel, said in a statement that the doll honors Ms. Reese's "on-court achievements and entrepreneurial leadership," which is corporate-speak for the fact that Ms. Reese, who is 24, has assembled a portfolio that includes co-ownership of TogethXr, a women's sports media company whose other principals include Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim and Ms. Bird.

The timing is favorable for Mattel, which reported that second-quarter sales rose 10 percent, to $1.13 billion. Last week, the company promoted Roberto Stanichi, a 20-year veteran, to president and chief marketing and brand officer, a newly created position.

All of which suggests that the business of selling dolls, like the business of selling sneakers, now requires a celebrity with her own media company and a shoe deal already in place. The accessories, it seems, are no longer optional.

Original story published in MediaPost: "Angel Reese Barbie -- Wearing Her New Reeboks -- Sells Out"