Angel Reese played four games away from LSU during the 2023/24 women’s collegiate basketball season. Despite how it appeared, head coach Kim Mulkey had her back the entire time.
A new trailer from Amazon’s upcoming documentary series ‘The Money Game’ provides a fresh perspective.
Reese was initially demoted to the bench following a victory over Kent State on November 14, 2023. At halftime, the Tigers led by two, and she never returned to the court. No other information was provided.
Reese did not accompany the squad to its next game, adding to the mystery of the issue. Mulkey was queried about his absence after the game and responded with an incredibly snarky reply, providing no additional information. Her decision to keep matters behind closed doors was customary, but it sparked much curiosity. Especially because the saga extended for three more games.
Nobody understood what to make of Reese’s time away from the court. She just added to the confusion by making repeated cryptic postings on social media. Mulkey got into a feisty confrontation with a reporter amidst all of the ambiguity, which was purportedly caused by her lousy attitude.
man. pic.twitter.com/oOBQmo6M3U
— CLOSED. (@k6yperc) September 14, 2024
This may still be true. However, Reese recently addressed the unusual pause and provided a somewhat different perspective. The eventual No. 7 overall pick in the WNBA Draft “kind of got into it” with Mulkey during the Kent State game. They agreed that it would be best if she took some time off.
She praised how her old coach handled the situation.
That type of relationship was possible for me and Coach Mulkey.
— Angel Reese
Reese eventually returned to the court for a high-profile match versus Virginia Tech. LSU triumphed by seven, and Mulkey embraced her star forward on the floor. It was a pretty public display of support, which attracted a lot of attention.
Amazon seized the entire exchange. Mulkey promised to protect her.
Although we don’t know exactly what happened in November, it appears that the Tigers should have handled the entire situation more transparently. Kim Mulkey might have prevented a lot of gossip and criticism by explaining that Angel Reese needs time to work on her mental health.
