LSU star Angel Reese will feature as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model in next week's issue.
The 21-year-old, who shot to fame when she became a national champion as LSU defeated Iowa in the title game at March Madness, has swapped her purple basketball uniform for a bikini.
Reese even performed her controversial ring celebration while posing in the two-piece in Los Angeles for the edition.
'I am unapologetically Angel,' she said in a video as part of the shoot. 'I am a queen. I am confident. I am strong. I am who I am.'
Editor in chief of SI Swimsuit MJ Day said: 'Angel Reese is a phenomenal basketball player. She's an All-American and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
LSU star Angel Reese will feature as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model for the first time. She even performed her controversial ring celebration while posing in the purple bikini
The 21-year-old swapped her purple basketball uniform for a bikini for next week's edition
Reese was scrutinized for her behavior in LSU's title-winning game. She pointed to her ring finger and mimicked John Cena's 'you can't see me' gesture near Iowa star Caitlin Clark (left)
'While we're of course here to celebrate her incredible achievements and athleticism, it wouldn't be an SI Swimsuit moment if we weren't shining a light on Angel's achievements off the court.
'Angel is combating the double standard in sports, especially for women. She is making a name for herself as a fierce competitor and an equally fierce advocate for growing the game of women's basketball.
'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.
'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 is the most valuable women's college player in terms of name, image and likeness (NIL) deals - worth a reported $1.3million.
The college basketball superstar was scrutinized for her behavior in the national championship game.
She was criticized for taunting Iowa - including star player Caitlin Clark - as the 102-85 win wound down - by pointing to her ring finger and mimicking John Cena's 'you can't see me' gesture near the Iowa star.
Others pointed to similar behavior from Clark earlier in the tournament that went more under the radar.
'Caitlin and I are cool. It's just being able to force people to accept that women can talk trash,' Reese said as part of the upcoming issue, out on May 18.
'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.'
The 21-year-old's stock has risen after winning a national title with LSU in March
Reese got a Mercedes-Benz EQS580 after signing an NIL agreement with a local dealer
She showed off her new ride for her birthday last week to her 1.8million Instagram followers
LSU captured its first-ever national title in program history with 102-85 win vs. the Hawkeyes
Reese is the most valuable women's college player in terms of name, image and likeness deals
Reese, who got a brand new Mercedes-Benz sedan worth $126,000 as part of an NIL partnership with a local dealer of the car giant for her birthday last week, and her LSU teammates will visit President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House to celebrate their NCAA glory on May 26.
They will not be joined by runners-up Iowa after the First Lady's idea was blasted.
Reese called the First Lady's invitation to visit the White House to celebrate their title victory a 'joke' amid the hypothetical possibility of Iowa's inclusion.
The 6-foot-3 forward, who can enter the WNBA Draft next year, has 1.8million followers on Instagram.
Issue on stands May 18, for more information visit: swimsuit.si.com
