Angel Reese was absent for her second consecutive game on Monday night. The reigning champion LSU Tigers routed Texas Southern 106-47 without their star forward on the court.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey refused to explain Reese’s absence. But Outkick.com reported Reese was benched last week for an “attitude adjustment.”
Outkick was also first to report Reese’s suspension from the team. She was a no-show for LSU’s 73-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Friday.
In Monday’s post-game interview, Coach Mulkey repeated the same answer she gave after Friday night’s win:
“I’m going to give you the same answer. Angel was not in uniform tonight, and Angel is a part of this basketball team,” Mulkey said. “And Angel will be back sooner than later.”
There is speculation that Reese was suspended following “an incident” that took place in the LSU’s locker room after she was benched before the second half of LSU’s game against Kent State on Nov. 14.
Mulkey seemed to confirm that Reese’s suspension was due to “locker room issues.”
“You always have to deal with locker room issues. That’s just part of coaching,” Mulkey said on Monday night. “In 40 years I can never think of a time where I didn’t have to deal with issues. That’s what coaches do. Sometimes y’all know about ’em and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you want to know more than you’re entitled to know.”
She added, “I’m going to protect my players, always. They are more important — it’s like a family.”
Addressing a reporter directly, Mulkey asked, “If you do some disciplining of your own children, do you think we’re entitled to know that? That’s a family in that locker room.”
"Sometimes you want to know more than you're entitled to know. I'm going to protect my players. Always."@LSUwbkb @KimMulkey on Angel Reese situation.
"If you do some disciplining of your own children, do you think we're entitled to know that?" #LSU @WAFB pic.twitter.com/n71pGbghwu
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) November 21, 2023
