Kim Mulkey gives Angel Reese message before season opener: 'Grow up and lead us'

No. 1 LSU is set to tip off its 2023-2024 Women’s Basketball campaign against No. 20 Colorado, and all eyes will be on Angel Reese as the season gets underway.

Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey had an encouraging message to give her star player before the season opener against the Buffaloes.

“She just understands the spotlight is on her,” Mulkey told Taylor Rooks pregame. “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.”

That includes the returning Flau’jae Johnson, as well as Louisville transfer Hailey Van Lith — who many believe will make up the strongest backcourt in the country this season. Still, Mulkey believes this team will have a long way to go in the coming weeks before they can return to national championship-level form.

“People need to realize we’re not the same team that won the national championship,” Mulkey said. “We feel like that we will eventually be a team that will contend for it but right now, today, we understand we’re getting ready to face an unbelievable Colorado team that is poised, polished, and has a lot of returning players.”

Tip-off inside the T-Mobile Arena is imminent. Candace Parker and Angel Gray will be on the call, and Mulkey had one final message to her team before they took the court.

“Just fight — just play hard,” Mulkey said. “That’s my personality. That’s the personality of this team. Go and give it everything you have. As Angel Reese likes to say, we have some dogs in this locker room. We’re going to make mistakes — it’s the first game of the year for everybody.

“I’ve watched people get beat today that were ranked higher than others. That’s good for women’s basketball, that people are interested in that we have these kinds of games. We’re going to fight hard and win or lose — we’re going to get better today.”

Tune in to TNT for some opening day ranked women’s college hoops action between the Tigers and Buffaloes.