What bad blood?
LSU star Angel Reese and first lady Dr. Jill Biden hugged when the NCAA champion Tigers visited the White House on Friday.
Reese took issue with Biden during LSU’s 102-85 win over Iowa on April 2, where he expressed his desire to invite both teams to DC.
The 21-year-old publicly dismissed the idea of a double invitation from the First Lady — even pushed back by White House staff — to say she would join her teammates in D.C. during an April 7 appearance on “SportsCenter.”
If there were bad feelings between the two, it didn’t show when the Tigers celebrated their first NCAA title with President Joe Biden.
“In this room, I see the best of the best,” said Jill Biden.
First Lady Jill Biden hugs LSU’s Angel Reese, right, as President Joe Biden talks with LSU’s Emily Ward.AP
“Every basket was pure joy and I kept thinking about how far women’s sports have come,” she added. “We have made so much progress and we still have more work to do.”
Newly announced Sports Illustrated model Reese hugged Jill and presented the First Lady with a custom white LSU jersey with “FLOTUS” nameplates on it.
The group posed for photos with Jill and President Biden, who also received a custom Lady Tigers jersey — both with No. 46 on the back and front to commemorate her presidential number — in a ceremony headlined by Tigers freshman Sa’Myah Smith. .
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden receive jerseys from LSU team captains Angel Reese and Emily Ward.Reuters
Angel Reese takes a selfie before LSU’s visit to the White House on May 26, 2023. Instagram/Angel Reese
“People, we witnessed history,” he said. “In this group we saw hope, we saw pride and purpose. It matters
“People, we need to promote women’s sport, not only during the tournament, but all year and every season.”
The president also joked that Reese — who is one of the NCAA’s leading NIL winners — “went up in price,” according to Highlight Her’s Ari Chambers.
President Joe Biden speaks to members of the Louisiana State University NCAA Division I women’s basketball national championship team.Getty Images
Reese, which announced its latest deal with Mielle Organics this week, is valued at $1.4 billion as of May 2023 with 26 NIL deals in its brand portfolio, including Raising Cane’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Calvin Klein, Bose and Coach.
She rose to stardom among the Tigers, teasing Hawkeyes goaltender Caitlin Clark as well as her title double-double, earning headlines.
When Jill Biden suggested she wanted to invite both teams to the White House because “they played such a good game,” Reese called it “A JOKE.”
Angel Reese arrives at the White House.AP
The 21-year-old, named “Most Outstanding Player” in the 2023 March Madness Final Four, had a change of tune, telling “SportsCenter” he would visit the White House and do what’s best for the team.
“At first, we were hurt, it was emotional because we know how much we worked all year for everything,” Reese said. “You never get that experience (to go to the White House), and I know that my team probably wants to go and my coaches want to go, so I’m going to do what’s best for the team and we’ve decided to go.
“I’m a team player,” Rees added. “I will do what is best for the team. I’m the captain.”
Reese — who turned 21 this month and bought himself a Mercedes-Benz — is entering his junior year at LSU.