Angel Reese makes her SI Swimsuit debut: ‘I am a queen’

Angel Reese can add Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model to her rapidly growing résumé.

The LSU women’s basketball star, who propelled the Lady Tigers to their first NCAA championship in program history last month, traded in her uniform for a purple two-piece for this year’s 2023 SI Swimsuit issue, the brand announced on Monday.

Reese made her SI Swim debut just over a week after LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne announced her first photoshoot with the brand.

The self-described Bayou Barbie posed for photographer Yu Tsai, flashing her famous championship celebration, which included her pointing to her ring finger after the Lady Tigers’ 102-85 win over the Hawkeyes.

She posed in a bikini by Indah and a seashell necklace by Brinker + Eliza, a Connecticut-based jewelry brand.

Reese modeled a variety of swimsuits in a behind-the-scenes video from her photo shoot with SI, which took place in Los Angeles.

“I am unapologetically Angel,” she said in a video from the shoot. “I am a queen. I am confident. I am strong. I am who I am.”

Reese went on to explain that she is proud of her body.

“The biggest takeaway I want people to know is you can be girly off the court and still have swag and just be who you are,” the 21-year-old said. “I mean, I embrace my body and who I am and on the court I can still ball. I am 6’3″, I work out a lot so why not show it? I got a nice little body. When I go to the beach or go to the pool and everybody’s looking, it’s like, ‘damn, you sexy girl.’”

MJ Day, the editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, wrote: “@angelreese10 theeeeeee literal ANGEL 🔥.”

Dunne commented with: “stunner! geaux tigers!💜✨.”

Day praised Reese for her unapologetic attitude and advocacy to grow the women’s game.

“Her intensity, drive and passion around being unapologetically herself and speaking up for what she believes in is helping move the needle forward for women in sports and is liberating the next generation to feel seen and heard,” Day said.

“Our goal here is to help empower as many women as we can and we’re beyond excited to do that alongside Angel Reese in the 2023 issue.”

Reese made headlines during March Madness for her trash talk and fierce competitive play — including when she taunted Iowa point guard Caitlin Clark with the John Cena “you can’t see me” celebration, and waved her hand in front of her face.

Both Reese and Day did the John Cena celebration after wrapping up the student-athlete’s photoshoot.

“Caitlin and I are cool,” Reese told the outlet. “It’s just being able to force people to accept that women can talk trash.

“The women’s side gets penalized for it, or we’re considered as not being ladylike and that we’re not playing by the rules. We work just as hard as the men. Women can be who we are. Women can be competitive.”

Reese, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, shared a similar statement during an appearance on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on Wednesday, where she was joined by teammates Alexis Morris, now of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun, and Flau’jae Johnson.

Reese will head to Colorado Springs later this month for the U.S. team trials in advance of the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, which will take place in Mexico this July.

The All-American forward — who turned 21 on Saturday, and treated herself to a brand new Mercedes-Benz — said she is finishing finals at LSU this week.