NEW ORLEANS — LSU star Angel Reese is back with the LSU Tigers, according to multiple sources.
Head coach Kim Mulkey says Reese will play against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Thursday. It's a rematch of last season's Final Four. Mulkey made the announcement during a press conference on Wednesday.
"She will play tomorrow," said Mulkey. "Angel is back and we are happy, happy, happy. She’s happy, happy, happy," said Mulkey.
The head coach has taken some flak for not talking about the reason for Reese's absence, though she did hint prior to the team's trip to the Cayman Islands, that it involved "locker room issues."
Mulkey's vagueness drew some outcries and she addressed it Wednesday saying that she is fine with criticism of her coaching decisions on the court and she said that, to her knowledge, she's never turned down an interview request unless she was already booked for the day. She said some of the scrutiny during the Reese absence got personal.
"All I ask as a coach is, if I don't give you the answer you want, don't attack me for that... Some of you take it to a personal level and I don't understand that."
Kateri Poole, who has also been absent for the same length of time as Reese, is not returning, at least not yet, while Sa'Mayah Smith's season has ended with a serious knee injury.
Reese last played on November 14 against Kent State. She was benched at halftime of that contest. Mulkey had said following that game, "Angel is a part of this basketball team and we hope to see her sooner than later."
Reese missed the last four games including the team's trip to the Cayman Islands for a tournament. The Bayou Barbie has been relatively quiet during her time away from the team. Tweeting, "Please don't believe everything you read," and posting a selfie from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Monday.
Reese had started LSU’s first four games, during which the Tigers went 3-1, and averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds. Reese averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game last season in leading LSU to its first national championship in women's basketball.
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