Angel Reese not seen during LSU pregame warmups vs. Southeastern Louisiana

After sitting out the second half of Tuesday’s game against Kent State, Angel Reese was not seen with LSU during pregame warmups Friday night, according to NOLA.com’s Reed Darcey. The Tigers are gearing up to take on Southeastern Louisiana.

Reese started Tuesday’s game, but didn’t see the court in the second half in what Kim Mulkey called a “coach’s decision” after the game. She scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in 14 minutes before leaving the 109-79 victory.

When asked to expand on her decision, Mulkey declined.

“I could, but I won’t,” Mulkey said, via The Daily Advertiser’s Cory Diaz. “It was just a coach’s decision.”

Mulkey is set to comment on Reese’s absence after the game, Darcey reported, citing a school spokesperson.

Reese was a critical piece of last year’s national championship team after transferring from Maryland, averaging 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game to help LSU win its first-ever title in Mulkey’s second season as the Tigers’ head coach. Through four games this year, Reese is averaging 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest as LSU started the year 3-1.

Off the court, Reese has been one of the highest-profile athletes in college sports and active in the NIL space. She has an On3 NIL Valuation of $5.2 million, which puts her at No. 7 in the On3 NIL 100 — the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation — and atop the On3 College Women’s Basketball NIL Rank. Her recent deals include a contract with Reebok and a campaign with Tampax alongside teammate Flau’jae Johnson.

Prior to the season opener — a 92-78 loss to Colorado — Mulkey had a message for Reese considering all her accomplishments and her high profile.

“She just understands the spotlight is on her,” Mulkey told Taylor Rooks ahead of tip-off. “I don’t think she realized how quickly it came in how hard it came at her. But as I tell her, to whom much is given much as expected. You brought this, you earned this. You wanted this, now grow up and lead us and she wants to continue to get better in her game. She wants to continue to get better with her leadership.

“But it’s not the Angel Reese show. We have some pretty good talent in that locker room with her.”

Barkley Truax contributed to this report.