Kim Mulkey not using Angel Reese injury as an excuse in loss to Iowa

The LSU Tigers women’s basketball team’s dream of becoming back-to-back champions came to an end in the Elite Eight following a tough loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, in the minds of some, Tigers star Angel Reese‘s early injury made this loss even more difficult to swallow.

After a slow start to the game, head coach Kim Mulkey’s club exploded, taking an eight-point lead early on. Unfortunately, that momentum was quickly lost when Reese suffered an ankle injury while attempting to contest a drive by Iowa’s Caitlin Clark. The Tigers star forward stumbled into the media section under the baseline, falling over. When she got up, Reese was in notable pain and hobbled to the bench.

Following their 94-87 elite aid defeat, Mullkey addressed the injury and discussed its significance for the game’s outcome.

“I didn’t ask anybody how bad the sprain is. Honestly, I’m assuming it was the same ankle she sprained in the SEC Tournament. But you’re in the heat of the moment. She’s playing. Trainer never came to see me to give me any details. I don’t know that Angel or I would ever make an excuse that her being hobbled was why we lost the game,” said Mulkey.

Like Reese, Mulkey has no intention of allowing the injury to her star forward to dominate headlines as the reason they lost. In the end, despite the injury, the Tigers’ downfall was their defense, as they had little to no answer for stopping Clark. The Hawkeyes star finished the game with 41 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds.

Reese also addressed the injury and its impact on her, taking a similar stance as her head coach.

“I did roll my ankle on one of the cameras. And I’m tough so I tried to play through it, of course. This is something that has been going on for a little while now. I played through it and I’m not gonna make that excuse for the rest of my play for the game,” said Reese.

Reese went back in the game after the injury occurred. But she would leave the contest in the fourth quarter after fouling out following a highly debatable charge offensive foul call in the eyes of many LSU fans. Reese’s night ended after she pulled down an impressive 20 rebounds to go a along with 17 points, four assists, and three blocks.