Angel Reese didn’t need a UConn jersey to become a basketball icon as she chose a different path, away from Geno Auriemma’s storied program, and made her mark all the same.
The Chicago Sky forward, now in her second WNBA season, was always on the radar of elite college programs and eventually got her breakthrough with the LSU Tigers, quickly becoming the star of the team.
And a recently resurfaced photo circulating on social media serves as a stark reminder that the 23-year-old was taken seriously well before her national breakout, highlighting her immense potential.
The image shows a teenage Reese standing next to Auriemma in what appears to be a no-frills gym visit. No cameras. No fanfare. Just one of the greatest coaches in women’s basketball personally scouting a high school star.
For many of the Chi Barbie‘s fans, this was not just a simple cool photo between the prospect and iconic 71-year-old, who has won 12 NCAA Division I tournaments and is paid $3.5m a year, it was a message.
One fan commented on X.com, “Geno doesn’t waste his time showing up for just anybody.
A second said, “Geno knew she was elite before the country did.”
According to the Baltimore Sun, Auriemma had been one of several top-tier coaches pursuing Reese, who was then-ranked second nationally in her high school class of 2020 and had narrowed her choices to elite programs including UConn and Maryland.
Eventually she cut off the Huskies and opted for the Athletics, remaining in her home state in Maryland, as she chased down regular basketball time instead f of competing with then-standouts in the name of Megan Walker and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
She began her collegiate career at Maryland before transferring to LSU, where she became a national sensation. Her dominant play helped lead the Tigers to the 2023 NCAA championship, beating Caitlin Clark‘s Iowa Hawkeyes in the process.
That was before she cemented her status as one of the most marketable and impactful players in college basketball history, going on to land a deal with Reebok and impressive the four-time NBA champion, Shaquille O’Neal.
Reese stuns in bathing suit ahead of WNBA All-Star Game
Reese is continuing to set records as she is currently averaging 12.4 points and 12.6 rebounds per game and recently became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 points and 500 rebounds.
However, whilst she attracts eyes on the court and is expected to be named a WNBA All-Star reserve, she was also catching attention off the court for her confidence and presence.
During the Fourth of July weekend, she drew widespread attention on social media by posting swimsuit photos on Instagram with the caption “some-BODY.”
The post amassed over 224,000 likes within 13 hours, and built upon her previous appearance for Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue in 2023, where she spoke about body confidence and self-expression.
“I had on thong bathing suits,” Reese said. “And I didn’t think I was going to be comfortable, but [everyone] made me feel really comfortable.
“I work out a lot. I embrace my body and who I am and every mark on my body. I probably feel the sexiest in a bathing suit.
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