Why Did Angel Reese Wear Only One Leg Legging At LSU?

With the conclusion of the 2023-2024 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, we say goodbye to the greatest season in history. This season featured players that transcended traditional women's college basketball limitations, and became nationwide, household names.

Caitlin Clark is obviously the leader in that thread. She's been so good in her college career, there are some suggesting she belongs in the BIG3 league with NBA all-stars. Clark became the NCAA's all-time leading scorer, and caught the attention of a mainstream audience. But Clark might not get there alone.

One of the biggest reasons Clark shot to superstardom was her NCAA Championship Game last season against LSU. More specifically, LSU's Angel Reese.

The above photo became one of the most talked about pictures in women's basketball history, and set up a narrative for this season. That moment laid the foundation for the greatest women's basketball season ever.

Clark and Reese would meet again this year in the NCAA tournament, but not in the Finals. The NCAA seemed to have create a path for their desired champion (it seemed pretty obvious they wanted South Carolina to win from the moment they didn't give them serious penalties after their sucker punches and cheap shots in the SEC Tournament) by placing all real challengers on one side of the bracket. LSU, Iowa, UConn, and UCLA were the only real contenders, along with South Carolina. Everyone but SC were put onto one side of the bracket...but that's a story for another day.

LSU and Iowa did face off, and unlike last year's Championship Game, Clark and Iowa won this year.

That mean's it was likely the final game for Angel Reese. Especially since she has now declared for the WNBA Draft. As she leaves LSU, she's opened up more about her time in Baton Rouge. But she had already pulled back the curtain on one of her biggest mysteries.

Her signature look has included a single legging when playing. Usually a color that matches her uniform. People have speculated a lot of different reasons for her wearing it, but now we know the truth. Speaking to NOLA.com, here's what Reese said:

“I had surgery two years back on my shin. I have a rod in my leg… I cover the scar on one, and then the two players that I admire, Te’a Cooper and A’ja Wilson, also wear it, too. So it is swag. But I have used it to cover my scar”

Some of the online rumors were true. There was speculation it was to cover up an injury scar, but I don't think I've ever read the speculation about honoring her heroes.