Celebrating Birthday Girl Angel Reese With a Look Back at Her SI Swimsuit Debut

Angel Reese may be suiting up for the Atlanta Dream these days, but before she was a WNBA star, the LSU graduate posed for the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue. The 24-year-old athlete, who celebrates her birthday today, Wednesday, May 6, traveled to Los Angeles for the occasion, where she was photographed by Yu Tsai.

Nearly a year after her SI Swimsuit debut, Reese was drafted as the No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA draft on April 15, 2024. And after playing two seasons with the Chicago Sky, the Maryland native was traded to the Dream last month. During her time with the Sky, Reese averaged 14.1 points per game, 12.9 rebounds per game and 2.7 assists per game. She will officially kick off the first regular season game with her new teammates in Minnesota when the Dream hit the road to take on the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday, May 9.

While on location with the SI Swimsuit team a few years ago, Reese chatted about everything from her body image to her background as a lifelong athlete. It should come as no surprise that Reese—whose younger brother, Julian Reese, plays for the Washington Wizards—comes from an athletic family. Her mother, also named Angel, played basketball at UMBC.

“She let me do whatever,” Reese said of her mom. “I ran track; I did volleyball; I did a little bit of swimming, gymnastics and cheer. She never put it on me that I had to play basketball because she did, so she let me experience and do whatever I wanted to do. I just finally decided basketball was going to be my thing. I was kind of good at it, and I was really competitive.”

In addition to her mother being her No. 1 fan, Reese has accumulated a major following of loyal fans throughout her first several years in the WNBA. When she was traded to Atlanta last month, her new team jersey sold out on the first day. Meanwhile, Reese’s 5.2 million Instagram followers are always hyping her up over her achievements, both on and off the court. In late March, she earned the cover of Vogue Australia, while a new colorway of her signature Reebok shoe was released last week.

In honor of Reese’s continued success (and her birthday!), we’re throwing it back to just a few of our favorite snapshots from her time on the SI Swimsuit set in 2023.

Angel Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Louisa Ballou. Earrings by Louis Abel. | Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

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

Angel Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by AEXAE. Dress by House of Aama. | Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Angel Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Swimsuit by Medina. | Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated

Angel Reese was photographed by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles. Top by Solo Studio. Swimsuit bottom by Miaou. | Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated