Angel Reese Breaks Down Her Feelings About the Two Most Viral Moments of Her Career

The LSU forward and SI Swimsuit model talks about embracing new opportunities after winning the NCAA women’s basketball championship.

Angel Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Indah. Necklace by Brinker + Eliza.Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Angel Reese is having an incredible year. The LSU forward was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA women’s basketball Final Four as the Tigers won the national title last month. The 21-year-old star is continuing to rack up sponsorships, recently signing an NIL deal with Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge, and her on-court trash talk was parodied on an April episode of Saturday Night Live. Now the Bayou Barbie is set to appear in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue.

While Reese has experienced a quick rise to fame, two viral moments in particular—which happened within just months of one another this year—are in part to thank for her quick ascent into the spotlight. First, she blocked a shot during a game against Arkansas in January while wearing only one shoe. Then in the NCAA final, she taunted Iowa guard Caitlin Clark in the clip now seen around the world. While the first few months of the year have been a whirlwind, Reese says she’s thankful for the viral moments and the opportunities that have stemmed from her team’s big win.

“Things have been super crazy, but I’m excited and blessed to be able to have these opportunities to just go out and being able to be who I am, and I think that I wouldn’t be able to get these opportunities if I didn’t win the national championship,” she shares. “So the benefits that have come from the national championship have been absolutely amazing, so I’m just blessed and happy.”

One such opportunity she can now check off of her bucket list? Posing for SI Swimsuit. Reese traveled to Los Angeles on the heels of the championship to work with photographer Yu Tsai. Reese calls the resulting images from her time on location with SI Swimsuit “fire,” and says that while she was initially nervous about the opportunity, Yu Tsai helped her feel comfortable in front of the camera.

“I probably feel the sexiest in a bathing suit, actually,” she admits. “I just feel like, I’m 6'3", my body is nice, I work out a lot, so I mean, why not show it?”

Reese’s infectious confidence is a trait that helps her rise above the noise of any negative public commentary. She stays true to herself no matter what and hopes her self-confident attitude serves as a positive example for young women.

“Some advice for younger girls is just being able to be you and stand confident and stand your ground. I mean, I’ve always stood on not getting the answer ‘no’ or taking the answer ‘no.’ I’ve always just tried to find another way or just do it myself.” Reese says. “My mom is very independent, and she raised two kids on her own, so I kind of get it from her. So just stay confident, be who you are, don’t ever let somebody tell you that you have to be in a box and just have great people around you.”

Reese counts her family; her best friend, Endyia Rogers; and her LSU teammates as some of the great people in her own life who constantly encourage her to be the best version of herself.

“We do everything together,” she says of her Tigers teammates. “We buy each other’s merch. We just are super supportive, going out to dinner together, just having fun. I just know when I leave LSU, these girls will be my sisters.”

And while Reese has been thrust into fame quite rapidly, she says she’s learned a lot about herself along the way when it comes to balance.

“Trying to take some time to yourself is O.K.,” she says. “It’s been fun. I’m just happy right now trying to live in the moment.”

Meet Angel Reese—read the 2023 SI Swimsuit model’s full feature profile here.