LSU forward Angel Reese (10) looks to make a move in the post against Hawaii forward Nnenna Orji (14) in the first period of their NCAA tournament first-round game on Friday, March 17, 2023 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

It took a trip to the Elite Eight for someone to ask LSU All-American Angel Reese why she wears a legging on her left side in every game.

A couple of reasons, Reese said here Saturday, but the biggest one is a scar on her leg from an operation.

“I had surgery two years ago on my shin. I have a rod in my leg.”

Angel Reese

Reese said at a news conference before LSU’s NCAA Greenville 2 regional final Sunday against Miami.

“Many people don’t know that.

“I cover the scar for one, then my two players that I really admire, Te’a Cooper and A’ja Wilson, they also wear it, too.

So it’s swag. But I’ve used it to cover my scar.”

Cooper played for LSU coach Kim Mulkey at Baylor during the 2019-20 season.

Angel Reese: L.S.U.'s Trash-Talking, Shot-Swishing Main Attraction - The New York Times

Wilson played at South Carolina and is now with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.

Angel recently defended her controversial gesture, calling out a double standard

In the final seconds of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, Angel approached Caitlin Clark and moved her open hand in front of her face — a gesture popularized by WWE star John Cena to mean “you can’t see me.”

Although the Iowa point guard made the exact same gesture to another player earlier in the tournament, Angel’s actions have sparked much debate on social media.

Column: Angel Reese plays with her heart on her sleeve, and there's nothing wrong with that | Sports | lsureveille.com

Some have criticized Angel, while others have defended her and highlighted how there was no public outrage in response to Caitlin’s gesture.

In a post-game press conference, Angel spoke about the difference in reaction she received compared to Caitlin: “All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative, I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in.

I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, and y’all don’t say nothing,” she said via CNN.

“So this is for the girls that look like me. For those that want to speak up for what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you,” Angel continued. “And that’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter is going to go into a rage every time.”