Angel Reese helped off court after injury vs. Auburn

Angel Reese had to be helped off the court in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s SEC Tournament game against Auburn. The LSU star stepped on an Auburn player’s foot and didn’t put much weight on her right foot afterward.

Reese headed straight to the bike behind the LSU bench as she tried to bounce back from the injury. The SEC Player of the Year – was in the midst of another big game for LSU, totaling 18 points and 11 rebounds prior to her injury for her 21st double-double of the season. She later returned to the bench with just under two minutes remaining after Kim Mulkey pulled the starters.

Reese has started all 26 games in which she’s appeared this season and is putting up big numbers once again. She enters the SEC Tournament averaging 19.1 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals to help LSU to a No. 1 seed in the field.

With four years under her belt, Reese is eligible to declare for the WNBA Draft. Head coach Kim Mulkey recently indicated the plan was for her to do just that, although Reese still has one more year to use via the COVID-19 waiver.

No matter what she decides to do, though, Mulkey said it’s time to take a close look at Reese’s impact in Baton Rouge.

“What Angel Reese has done at LSU in two years, we really need to step back and go, ‘Wow,’” Mulkey said at halftime of Thursday’s game between Arkansas and Auburn. “She won a national championship last year, she’s a celebrity now. And then, to come back this year and get Player of the Year – she was an All-Defensive player, as well – she’s left her mark.

“Whether she comes back next year or not, that young lady has left her mark on LSU women’s basketball.”

Reese’s Player of the Year award comes after a huge debut season with the Tigers in 2022-23 with 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds after transferring in from Maryland. In the process, she earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors as well as a unanimous first team All-American selection.

If she declares for the WNBA Draft, Reese appears likely to go in the Top 10. In ESPN’s latest mock draft released Thursday, Michael Voepel projected her to go No. 7 overall to the Minnesota Lynx.

The Tigers left no room for doubt after a blistering start, leading 21-0 early over Auburn before ultimately winning the game 78-48. That sent them to the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday.