LSU’s standout forward and the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, Angel Reese, has honed her pre-game ritual. At 21, she guided the Tigers to their inaugural NCAA women’s basketball title earlier this year, and she prioritizes certain essentials on game days.

“I have to take a shower before the game and then I have to do my hair and edges—all of that has to be done with music on,” she says. “I have to have music on [even] when I get to the gym. I have my headphones on and I’m like zoned out. I’m in the mode.”

The Bayou Barbie, who is featured in the 2023 SI Swimsuit Issue, was photographed for the magazine by Yu Tsai in Los Angeles.

The Baltimore native, who set an NCAA record with 34 double doubles this season, says she is in her “chill, kind of fly girl era right now,” but her pre-game rituals must be followed exactly.

As for the go-to songs she likes to blare while getting ready, she says any of teammate Flau’jae Johnson’s music will do. The rapper plays guard for the Tigers and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year this season.

Reese adds that her favorite edge control gel to use while getting ready is Loc N and teases that she will hopefully be dropping her own line of products soon. She also notes that her hair, lashes and nails are always done while on the court. It’s important to her to show off her strong, athletic side as well as her more feminine side because the two are not mutually exclusive.

“I want people to know you can be girly off the court and still have swag and just be who you are,” she says. “I embrace my body and who I am. Every mark on my body, I am who I am. But on the court, I can still ball and just play hard. You can do both.”

Clearly, her pre-game routine works as the Tigers defied all odds when they beat Iowa 102–85. Reese says she hopes her viral moments and the attention she has brought to the sport will push the needle forward for women’s athletics.

“We’ve achieved a lot in just one year. Originally, we weren’t expected to reach the Final Four,” the All-American reflects. “Receiving feedback like, ‘You’ve revolutionized the game. You’re making history,’ has been incredibly meaningful to me. This year has truly been a gift.”