LSU's Angel Reese to go to White House with team

4/7/2023 11:02:32 AM EST

LSU star forward Angel Reese is heading to the White House after all.

Reese's announcement Friday on ESPN's "SportsCenter" came days after she suggested the Tigers should celebrate their national championship with former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama -- as opposed to President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

Reese, 20, took issue with Jill Biden floating the idea that the Iowa Hawkeyes should be invited to the White House along with LSU "because they played such a good game" in the final of the NCAA Tournament. Reese, the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament, responded to the idea on social media by calling it "A JOKE."

LSU confirmed Thursday that it had accepted the invitation to the White House.

"In the beginning we were hurt -- it was emotional because we know how hard we worked all year for everything," Reese said Friday.

"You don't get that experience (to go to the White House) ever, and I know my team probably wants to go for sure and my coaches are supportive of that so I'm going to do what's best for the team and we've decided we're going to go.

"I'm a team player. I'm going to do what's best for the team. I'm the captain."

LSU secured the program's first NCAA Tournament title with a 102-85 victory over Iowa on Sunday afternoon. The game averaged 9.9 million television viewers, making it the most-watched women's college basketball game on record.

--Field Level Media

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