Angel Reese, a rising star in women's basketball, opens up about her journey with legendary coach Kim Mulkey at LSU and her transition to the WNBA. In an honest and revealing interview, Reese shares her initial struggles with Mulkey's tough-love coaching style, which she once privately hated. But as she reflects on her time with Mulkey, Reese acknowledges the invaluable lessons and the tough love that prepared her for the WNBA.
Reese, who played under Mulkey at LSU, describes the coach's relentless standards and her own initial resistance. She admits, 'She used to get on me bad, and I used to hate it in the moment. I used to like why is she always on me like that?' However, she soon realized the purpose behind Mulkey's strictness, stating, 'But then, when I got to the league, I’ll be like, 'oh okay, like this is a standard.' It was no walking in practice. It was no, not being ready to go. When you came and practice I was ready to go... But she’s out of heart, out of good love.'
Reese's honesty about her feelings towards Mulkey showcases her growth and appreciation for the coach's impact. She reflects on her gratitude for the experience, saying, 'Back in 2025, I revealed, 'She prepared me for the WNBA. I think mentally, physically, for sure — practices were very long, and it was easy for me to do training camp. There’s not really anything anybody can say to me as a coaching staff that can break me, or tell me anything that I don’t know about myself, or say things that get me going because I went through Kim Mulkey. She’s gonna tell it like it is, she’s gonna keep it real with you, and I appreciate that. At the moment, I hated it. I’m not gonna lie, I hated it, and I dreaded it, and I didn’t like it. But when I left, I’m like, I was really thankful for that. It didn’t make sense in the moment, but now it all makes sense.'
Reese's journey also includes a reflection on her relationship with coach Teresa Weatherspoon, who trained the Chicago Sky. Despite the abrupt end to their partnership, Reese values Weatherspoon's guidance and the lessons learned. She shares, 'I think you move with a lot of grace, come to the situation that did happen. It was very unfortunate for a lot of us, more than you know. I kind of took from it like I always told you, people come in your life for a reason and a season. And I think you came in my life for the right reason and the right season.'
In the end, Reese emphasizes the importance of her coaches' roles in her development, even when their teachings were challenging. Her honesty and growth demonstrate her appreciation for the tough love that shaped her into the player she is today.
