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LSU's Kim Mulkey says Angel Reese has returned to team

On3 imageby: Matthew Brune11/29/23MatthewBrune_
angel-reese-sends-emphatic-message-following-lsu-national-title-win
C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

On Wednesday afternoon, Kim Mulkey took the podium ahead of LSU’s game against Virginia Tech and announced that all-american forward Angel Reese is back with the team and will play on Thursday night. She did not specify if Reese will be starting, but says she’s interested to see her play with Aneesah Morrow.

“It’s not difficult at all,” Mulkey said of getting Reese back involved. “I’ve coached Angel for a year and she knows our system. Her playing with Morrow a little bit more will take place as we continue the season. She’s played with her in practice, so they’ll be really good. It may not be smooth, but it should be good because Morrow is playing really good basketball right now.”

Reese had missed the last four games and was not on the bench any of the games. Reese was benched initially in the second half against Kent State on Nov. 14 and Mulkey declined to explain why. After Reese did not travel with the team to Southeastern three days later, Mulkey was asked about Reese’s status with the team.

“Angel was not in uniform,” Mulkey said after the win over Southeastern. “Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope she’s back with the team soon. I’m not gonna answer any more than that.”

From there, Reese remained away from the team and there was no update on her status from LSU, but Mulkey did what she believed was best for her team and her player.

“You always have to deal with locker-room issues,” Mulkey said. “Sometimes you all know about them. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you want to know more than you’re entitled to know. I’m going to protect my players — always. They are like a family.”

Now, Reese is back with the team and ready to contribute on Thursday in the top 10 matchup. Reese has been practicing with the team and Mulkey looks to get her team on the same page in the non-conference season.

Angel Reese has made a name for herself both on and off the court at LSU

LSU forward Angel Reese is on top of the women's college basketball world and letting everyone know
C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Reese was a critical piece of last year’s national championship team after transferring from Maryland, averaging 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game to help LSU win its first-ever title in Mulkey’s second season as the Tigers’ head coach. Through four games this year, Reese is averaging 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest as LSU started the year 3-1.

Off the court, Reese has been one of the highest-profile athletes in college sports and active in the NIL space. She has an On3 NIL Valuation of $5.2 million, which puts her at No. 7 in the On3 NIL 100 — the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation — and atop the On3 College Women’s Basketball NIL Rank. Her recent deals include a contract with Reebok and a campaign with Tampax alongside Johnson.

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