Tag: kim mulkey

Angel Reese on why she left LSU, declared for WNBA draft

Angel Reese shed some light on her choice to declare for the WNBA draft.

Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, LSU women’s basketball star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] elected to declare for the WNBA draft.

The Chicago Sky selected Reese with the No. 7 overall pick on Monday night. Following the draft, Reese shed light on her choice to turn pro.

“I didn’t know what I was gonna do. Obviously, coming back would have been amazing for me. I wanted more for myself. I wanted to start over,” Reese said.

Reese was honored at LSU’s senior day but waited until the season concluded in the Elite Eight against Iowa to make her draft declaration official.

For Reese, it was about getting to face the best in the world night after night.

“I feel like I had been at a high since the national championship. I wanna hit rock bottom. I wanna be a rookie again,” Reese said.

Reese was dominant at LSU, averaging 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds per game in her time as a Tiger. She led the SEC in total points the last two years and ranks 16th all-time on the NCAA’s career rebounds list.

The competition will get tougher, but Reese is ready to embrace it.

“This league is really competitive and I’m a competitive player,” Reese said.

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Angel Reese and Kim Mulkey had a huge hug after the Chicago Sky drafted her

A moment between the LSU coach and now former player.

Kim Mulkey and Angel Reese may have had their differences at LSU at certain points, but the coach posted a heartfelt goodbye to the star after Reese declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft.

After Reese was taken by the Chicago Sky to pair her with Kamilla Cardoso, cameras caught Kim Mulkey going up to Reese and giving her a huge hug that lasted a few seconds, followed by Mulkey pointing out something or someone(s) in the crowd who cheered.

Reese looked a little emotional in the moment, which made sense after hearing her name called and getting that greeting from her college coach:

LSU transfer Hailey Van Lith reportedly visited conference rival over the weekend

LSU may not have seen the last of Hailey Van Lith.

Former LSU point guard [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] opted to enter the transfer portal after just one season in Baton Rouge. The former All-ACC player at Louisville is back on the market after her production dipped in 2023-24 with a position change.

Van Lith is one of the top available players in the transfer portal, and she could be eying a move to a conference rival. Van Lith was in Starkville over the weekend to take a Saturday visit to Mississippi State, as was first reported by Talia Goodman of The Next.

Van Lith will be a fifth-year senior entering her final season of eligibility with her new team.

Van Lith moved from the shooting guard spot to the point guard position this season, and it resulted in her scoring average dropping from 19.7 to 11.6. Coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] recently said Van Lith chose to transfer in order to finish out her career playing her more natural position at the two.

It remains to be seen how much of an impact that visit with the Bulldogs had, but it’s possible LSU hasn’t seen the last of Van Lith.

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LSU women’s basketball finishes sixth in final AP Top 25

The Tigers moved up in the final rankings despite their Elite Eight exit.

It wasn’t the finish to the season that the defending national champion LSU women’s basketball team hoped it would be, but it was still a very successful Year 3 for coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag].

The Tigers began the year with expectations to repeat, and though they had to work through some struggles during the season, they ultimately made it back to the Elite Eight, where they fell in a revenge game to eventual national runner-up Iowa.

Still, they’re moving up in the post-tournament final AP Top 25 rankings, rising a pair of spots from No. 8 to No. 6 after winning 30+ games for just the eighth time in program history.

Its 65 wins over the last two seasons also mark the second-most in program history behind 1976-78.

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LSU’s Seimone Augustus inducted into Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

Seimone Augustus becomes the first LSU women’s player selected for the Hall of Fame.

Former LSU women’s basketball star [autotag]Seimone Augustus[/autotag] was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday. She becomes the first-ever Tigers women’s player to receive that honor.

She joins coaches [autotag]Sue Gunter[/autotag], [autotag]Van Chancellor[/autotag] and [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] as well as men’s players [autotag]Shaquille O’Neal[/autotag], [autotag]Bob Petit[/autotag] and [autotag]Pete Maravich[/autotag] in the Hall.

“When you think about all the qualities involved in being a Hall of Fame player, no one checks all the boxes like Seimone,” LSU Associate Head Coach Bob Starkey said in a release. “But what brings me the most pride is that she was a hall of fame person and teammate as well — I know of no one more deserving.”

The Baton Rouge native played at LSU from 2002-06, being named the national Player of the Year in each of her final two seasons. The first overall pick in the WNBA draft, she won four league titles with the Minnesota Lynx before the eight-time all-star finished her career with the Los Angeles Sparks.

She also later spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant with the Sparks.

Augustus’ enshrinement into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will take place from August 16-17.

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Hailey Van Lith doesn’t declare for WNBA draft as deadline passes

Hailey Van Lith hasn’t made any public announcements as the draft deadline has now passed.

The deadline to declare for the WNBA draft came and went on Wednesday, and LSU’s [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] is yet to announce her plans.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] declared and the assumption was Van Lith would too. Both were honored at LSU’s senior day last month, but official decisions were up in the air.

With Reese off to the WNBA, Van Lith’s next step is still unclear. It’s possible she silently declared, but if she didn’t, that could mean a return to LSU is in the fold.

Van Lith passing on the draft doesn’t guarantee a return to LSU. The senior guard could opt to hit the transfer portal again and explore her options elsewhere.

Van Lith’s numbers at LSU were below the standard she set at Louisville, but with Reese gone, Van Lith has the chance to take center stage on next year’s team.

Van Lith, along with [autotag]Flau’jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] could form one of the nation’s most dynamic backcourts.

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Kim Mulkey posts a heartfelt goodbye to Angel Reese after LSU star declared for the WNBA draft

Kim Mulkey had a simple message for the LSU star who’s off to the WNBA.

Angel Reese is off to take her stardom to the WNBA, as she announced on Wednesday with a Vogue photoshoot, which is great news for her and her fan base.

Although there was some drama between her and LSU coach Kim Mulkey earlier in the year, Reese and her seemed to have a strong relationship especially after winning a national championship together last year.

Mulkey took to Instagram to pay tribute to Reese after the news broke that the star was off to the WNBA, and it was a simple message about her accomplishments and the coach saying to “keep growing the game.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5T1wMyvMn8/?hl=en

LSU star Angel Reese declares for 2024 WNBA draft

Angel Reese’s legendary career in Baton Rouge comes to an end.

The news that was widely expected ultimately came on Wednesday. LSU women’s basketball star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] has declared for the WNBA draft, she announced through an exclusive story in Vogue.

Reese, who joined the team last season as a transfer from Maryland, had a remaining season of eligibility as a fourth-year junior, but she will instead begin her professional career after leading the Tigers to their first national championship in program history in 2023.

The Baltimore native finishes her LSU career with 61 double-doubles, sitting behind only [autotag]Sylvia Fowles[/autotag] in program history. Her 34 double-doubles last season also set an NCAA record

Over the past two seasons, she averaged 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds, becoming the first player to lead the SEC in both categories in back-to-back seasons since Vanderbilt’s Wendy Scholtens in 1989-90. She was named the SEC Player of the Year this season.

“To my family, my mom, my MVP, to Baltimore and the Terps, to LSU — my PMAC home — to my teammates and coaches, managers and trainers, to God and his blessing of a life: Thank you,” Reese said in a video posted to social media. “All of this is because of you. Thank you for loving me and supporting me in everything I do. For standing by me at my lowest, for making every second of the last four years a dream come true.

“I’m leaving college with everything I wanted. A degree, a national championship and this platform I could have never imagined. This is for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in, it’s unapologetically you, and to have an impact on those coming next. This was a difficult decision but I trust the next chapter because I know the author. Bayou Barbie, out.”

Reese is widely projected as a top 10 pick in the WNBA draft, with most mocks showing her either going seventh to the Minnesota Lynx or eighth to the Chicago Sky.

“Angel transferred to LSU after my first season in Baton Rouge and she helped transform our program,” coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] said in a release. “When she came here, she said she wanted to be here for two seasons and she has lived up to that. What a remarkable two years it has been. We are all indebted to Angel Reese for the contributions she has given to this program, helping us win our first National Championship, and the contributions she made on our university as a whole. She not only helped grow our program but had an impact on growing the game of women’s basketball across the country. We wish her good luck as she moves to the WNBA and look forward to see all that she accomplishes. We will miss her but will always cherish the two years we got to spend with her. Forever LSU.”

Reese’s time in Baton Rouge won’t soon be forgotten, but now, one of the athletes most responsible for the recent growth of the women’s college game is moving on to the next level.

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LSU’s Kim Mulkey reveals postgame comments to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark: ‘I sure am glad you leaving’

Kim Mulkey seems to be relieved that Caitlin Clark is off to the WNBA.

LSU came up short in its hopes of returning to the Final Four in Monday night’s Elite Eight loss to Iowa.

In a rematch of last year’s national championship, which was won by the Tigers, the Hawkeyes ultimately got their revenge this time around in a 94-87 victory that propelled it into the national semifinal.

Caitlin Clark was the star of the show, per usual. With [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] guarding her most of the game, the Tigers had no answers as she dropped 41 points in a game Iowa controlled for most of the second half.

After the game, [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] was spotted talking to Clark in the handshake line, and after the game, she revealed her message for the likely top WNBA draft pick.

“I sure am glad you leaving,” Mulkey recalled saying. “I said, ‘Girl, you something else. I’ve never seen anything like it.'”

Mulkey also elaborated on the Tigers’ strategy in defending Clark, calling back to what she said before the game: You can’t stop her, you can only hope to contain her.

LSU clearly failed to do that.

“There’s not a lot of strategy,” Mulkey said. “You’ve got to guard her, nobody else seems to be able to guard her. We didn’t even guard her last year when we beat them. She’s just a generational player, and she just makes everybody around her better. That’s what the great ones do.”

Clark, like [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], had the opportunity to return to college basketball next season. However, she announced last month that she would not remain at Iowa for a fifth season and will instead enter the draft, where she is projected to go first overall to the Indiana Fever.

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COLUMN: This year’s LSU women’s basketball team wasn’t equipped to play at the top of the sport

This LSU squad ultimately lacked the pieces that carried the team to a national title last season.

LSU’s championship hopes came crashing down after it ran into the force that is Caitlin Clark.

Iowa got off to a hot start before LSU managed to sustain a run of its own. It was reminiscent of the early run LSU went on in last year’s game, overwhelming Iowa with active defense and physicality in the post.

But then, [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] left the game with an ankle. She would return, but she wasn’t the same player that dominated the first quarter. Iowa took control in the second half and closed it out.

Reese’s ankle certainly played a factor and if she’s healthy, maybe LSU is advancing to the Final Four. But that’s not the reason LSU lost that game.

LSU’s going home because this team wasn’t capable of winning a title. That’s not an indictment of any individual, from Reese to [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag], but this team, as a whole, lacked something.

Last year’s team had all the right pieces. Think back to that 102-85 victory over Iowa in the national title. It wasn’t just Reese and [autotag]Flau’jae Johnson[/autotag]. The difference was [autotag]Jasmine Carson[/autotag] coming off the bench and hitting five threes. [autotag]Ladazhia Williams[/autotag] scored 20 points in the post. In the backcourt, [autotag]Alexis Morris[/autotag] scored 21 and [autotag]Kateri Poole[/autotag] went two for two from behind the arch.

But this year, when Reese went cold with the ankle, the supporting cast didn’t immediately answer the call. Johnson did eventually, with a strong second half, but it was too late. Iowa already seized momentum.

LSU had three chances this year to secure a win against one of the top teams in the sport. Two against South Carolina and again on Monday against Iowa. LSU was competitive but went 0-3 in those games. At some point, we just have to admit this team wasn’t equipped to play at the top of the sport this year.

Coming off the national title, LSU was favored to do it again. Returning Reese and Johnson along with the transfer additions of [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] led many to believe this team would be even better.

But as the year went on, cracks started to emerge. Poole was dismissed from the team while [autotag]Sa’Myah Smith[/autotag] tore her ACL. Van Lith struggled to transition to a true point guard role. Mulkey expressed frustration as LSU struggled to defend, play in transition and protect the ball.

LSU was upset by Colorado, Auburn and Mississippi State. Three solid teams, but all well below LSU’s talent level.

I said this team lacked something, but it’s hard to say what that exact something is. If LSU had a point guard like Morris out there, is that enough to push LSU over the edge?

That wouldn’t solve the inconsistency we saw from this team or the inability to keep up with Iowa’s three-point shooting.

This team had no glaring weakness, but it had enough. And put together, it was enough to end LSU’s year. The Iowa loss is disappointing, but there’s a reason LSU was an underdog to begin with.

The immediate future is unclear. Reese and Van Lith both face WNBA decisions while Mulkey is sure to look in the transfer portal for some help at guard and improved depth.

Still, it’s hard to not trust Mulkey after her first three years in Baton Rouge. LSU will be back.

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