Kim Mulkey tells the truth about coaching former LSU star Angel Reese

Angel Reese made a return to Baton Rouge, stepping back onto the court at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center—this time in a Chicago Sky jersey for an exhibition matchup against the Brazilian National Team. The familiar roar of the crowd wasn’t the only thing welcoming her home. In the stands, and later on the broadcast, sat someone who had been with her from the beginning of her collegiate journey—former LSU head coach Kim Mulkey.

Naturally, Mulkey wasn’t going to miss the chance to watch one of her star players shine on a new stage. She even joined the live broadcast to share her thoughts on Reese’s growth and legacy, offering heartfelt praise and insights into what makes the young star so special.

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“Angel just has a personality. She just attracts a lot of attention—she’s authentic and a competitor,” Mulkey said. “What is there not to like about Angel Reese?”

Mulkey reflected on what sets Reese apart from other post players—not just her physicality, but her instincts on the floor. “Angel is aware of where the ball is coming off that rim. When her teammates shoot it, she is always positioning herself to get the offensive rebound,” she explained. “I was just down there watching her as a fan and I said I never get to see that in a game.” Mulkey smiled as she added, “She just has a knack for finding the basketball.”

As she reminisced about their championship run together in 2023, Mulkey’s tone grew both proud and reflective. “I got her my second year at LSU, you don’t start talking about winning national championship that early,” she admitted. But things changed quickly—with Reese, and a few other key players, LSU’s fortunes turned around.

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“We turned it around. The portal helped us. Angel coming—Alexis Morris and Jasmine Carson. I mean we had a boat load of them that had a lot of experience at the collegiate level,” Mulkey said.

Reese’s journey to stardom didn’t come without obstacles. Mulkey noted that injuries at Maryland limited her ability to fully showcase her talent early on. But once at LSU, Reese blossomed into the SEC Player of the Year, averaging an astounding 15 rebounds per game. “Angel was injured at Maryland so she didn’t get to really probably showcase all of her talent there,” Mulkey said. She noted that she didn’t know Reese would end up being a ‘walking double-double’ and being as outstandingly consistent as she was.

Reese has often credited her time at LSU—and specifically Coach Mulkey—for preparing her for the toughness and intensity of the WNBA. Mulkey took that as a high compliment. “I think that when you play this game, you play it hard. Angel played hard and there would be moments where she would get tired and fatigued and I would push her—tell her to fight through that.”

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Of course, that kind of pushing doesn’t always come without friction.

Mulkey acknowledged that the intensity may not have always been easy for Reese in the moment. “I think that if you look at championship teams and coaches who have coached championship teams—we all kind of have that type of personality to push them just a little further than they think they can go.”

Now, as Reese begins the next phase of her career, the foundation laid in Baton Rouge remains a defining part of her game.