An internet sleuth has uncovered a historic photograph of a college-age Angel Reese together with UConn Huskies women’s basketball team coach Geno Auriemma.

There’s probably one alternate universe in which Reese never played for LSU to win the NCAA championship in 2023 and instead moved to the Huskies and played ball with Paige Bueckers prior to them both becoming WNBA superstars for separate teams in the 2024 season. “Imagine,” the sleuth said in their caption of the picture.

In the photograph, the 6-foot-3 Reese — who is wearing a UConn sweater — towers over Auriemma. They are both smiling. It stands to reason that UConn was likely one of the many schools interested in Reese at the time the photograph would have been taken, and Auriemma, who has 11 NCAA championships and three Olympic gold medals to his name, knows a lot about coaching blue-chip talents — and would likely have relished coaching a standout like Reese.

That’s not to say their relationship has not since been complicated. Reese, after all, leaped to the defense of Lauren Park-Lane, who Auriemma spoke about when the 5-foot-3 guard left Seton Hall for Mississippi State – and Auriemma implied it was down to money.

“To say I left my four-year university for money is reckless,” Park-Lane fired back before receiving backing from Reese. “Been that girl,” she said.

Fast forward to Monday, and Reese appeared to joke that she’d rather the photograph of her and Auriemma disappear into the ether. “Let’s put this picture back wherever y’all found it,” she said, with a variety of laughing emojis and a face.

The photo reinforces how extraordinarily gifted the class of 2020 truly were, particularly when casting an eye over the recruiting rankings in the espnW 100. UConn star Paige Bueckers, of course, is No.1, with Reese second, Cameron Brink third, and Caitlin Clark fourth.

Clark told ESPN in March, 2024, that “like everyone else” her “dream school was … UConn” but as the school already had Bueckers, they did not pursue Clark, as well.

At a time when veteran players like Diana Taurasi said graduates from the 2024 Draft class like Reese and Clark might find themselves struggling to replicate their college form in the pro ranks, it was Auriemma, though, who had the backs of the rookies.

He said Clark and Reese may not be “the two best players in the WNBA, but they’re the two most talked about players … right now. If you’re some of the players… you can moan and groan about why weren’t they talking about me when I was here… or you can just appreciate what it is and take advantage of it now.”