WNBA

Angel Reese embraces LSU coach Kim Mulkey after Sky’s win over Mystics

Angel Reese shared a special moment with a familiar face Thursday following the Chicago Sky’s 79-71 win over the Washington Mystics.

Moments after the Sky improved to 4-5 on the season, the rookie forward embraced Kim Mulkey, her former coach at LSU, on the sidelines at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Reese, who tallied 16 points, 11 rebounds and three assists Thursday, appreciated the interaction.

Angel Reese during the Chicago Sky’s win over the Washington Mystics on June 6, 2024. NBAE via Getty Images

“She just said she’s super proud of me,” Reese said, according to footage shared by X user @SummerDC_. “… She’ll support you no matter what. She’s like a mother to me. She calls me still, she checks in on me making sure I’m good. Checks in on my family, calls my grandma.”

Reese began her collegiate career at Maryland in 2020 before transferring to LSU for the 2022-23 season.

That year, Reese and Mulkey led the Lady Tigers to their first national championship with a 102-85 win over Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Kim Mulkey with Angel Reese during an LSU game in March 2024. Getty Images
Mulkey and Reese (10) won a national championship together at LSU in 2023. Getty Images

LSU battled Iowa again in this year’s NCAA women’s tournament, with the Hawkeyes prevailing in the Elite Eight, 94-87, en route to a national championship appearance.

Reese declared for the WNBA draft in April, with Mulkey — who is entering her fourth season at LSU — posting a touching message to her former player.

“Keep growing the game @angelreese10,” Mulkey wrote on Instagram.

Mulkey celebrated with Reese in New York that month when the Sky selected the 22-year-old with the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft.

Angel Reese celebrated with Kim Mulkey after she was selected by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Getty Images

The Sky’s win Thursday comes one day after veteran Chennedy Carter and the team were reportedly harassed upon arriving at their team hotel in Washington, D.C.

“Finding out our teams hotel to pull with a camera as we get off the bus and put it in my teammates face & HARASS her is NASTY WORK. this really is outta control and needs to STOP,” Reese said of the alleged incident in a post on X.

Carter has been at the center of headlines and sports media discussions this week after a hip-check foul against Clark in the Sky’s loss to the Indiana Fever last weekend.

The Sky will host the Atlanta Dream at home Saturday.