Almost overnight, Angel Reese has become one of the most popular athletes in college sports.
And now the NCAA champion basketball player has found herself — or at least a version of herself — sitting behind's famed "Weekend Update" desk.
cast member Punkie Johnson spoofed the Louisiana State University basketball player during Saturday night's episode, following a week in which Reese, 20, and her LSU Tigers team won the national championship and abruptly found themselves at the center of a debate about sportsmanship.
Johnson, 37, appeared alongside "Weekend Update" host Michael Che during Saturday night's episode, wearing Reese's No. 10 purple and gold jersey and the sophomore's trademark purple headband.
"I'm a big deal now, Che," Johnson said, referring to Reese's sudden stardom and the fact that college athletes can now earn money from endorsement deals because of the NCAA's new "Name, Image, and Likeness" rule. Johnson then mockingly read a handful of taglines for Degree deodorant, garden gnomes and a fake company called "Big A** Eyelashes.
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Major endorsement deals might not be far off for the LSU star, who sparked controversy following her team's victory over Iowa in the NCAA Women's Basketball national championship game when she taunted Iowa guard Caitlin Clark by pointing at her ring finger. Clark had similarly taunted other opponents during her record-breaking performance throughout the tournament, and the Iowa star later defended Reese from critics.
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