Arrr! Angel Reese be missin' yet again, savvy? The star forward be absent from her third LSU game!
2023-11-24
Arrr! LSU's shining star, Angel Reese, be seemin' yet again like a ghostly apparition at the Cayman Islands Classic! Methinks she be playin' hide-and-seek with the national champion Tigers!
Angel Reese, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 Women's NCAA Tournament, was absent from the team during a game on Friday. Despite losing Sa'Myah Smith to a knee injury, the LSU Tigers managed to secure a victory against Niagara. ESPN reported that Reese did not travel with the team to the Cayman Islands. Coach Kim Mulkey stated that Reese's return would be evident when it happens, implying that she is currently not with the team.LSU guard Kateri Poole also missed Friday's game, and Mulkey promised an update on her situation soon. The game encountered a turbulent start when a fire alarm interrupted the pregame warmups, causing a 40-minute delay after the gymnasium was briefly evacuated.
Reese has not played in a game since being benched during halftime on November 14th. According to Mulkey, the decision to bench Reese was made by the coach. However, Mulkey did not provide further details during a postgame news conference, stating that she will always prioritize protecting her players.
Despite a disappointing opening loss to Colorado, LSU has managed to win six consecutive games. Reese's statistics this season have been impressive, averaging 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Last season, she averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per contest. Reese joined LSU from Maryland before the 2022-23 season.
During the offseason, Reese signed several name, image, and likeness deals, appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, and made a cameo in a popular music video. LSU is set to play against Virginia on Saturday and will then return home to host Virginia Tech on Thursday.