Angel Reese Credits LSU Coach Kim Mulkey for Her WNBA Success, Says She Shaped Her into a Pro-Ready Competitor

Angel Reese has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. From her viral moments on the court to her confident, unapologetic interviews, the former LSU star continues to command attention. But as the newly minted WNBA rookie embarks on her professional journey, Reese is making sure to shine that light on someone else—Kim Mulkey. In a recent interview following her WNBA debut, Reese credited the fiery, championship-winning LSU head coach for much of her early success at the next level.

“Coach Mulkey taught me how to be a pro before I even got here,” Reese said. “She pushed me in ways I didn’t always understand at the time, but now I see what she was doing. She was preparing me for this.”

That preparation appears to be paying off. Reese, who was drafted by the Chicago Sky with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, made an immediate impact in her debut, notching a double-double and grabbing attention for her rebounding tenacity and physical style of play. Those qualities, she said, were honed under Mulkey’s watchful eye in Baton Rouge.

Mulkey, a Hall of Fame coach known for her intense, detail-oriented style and a wardrobe that turns heads just as much as her playbook, took Reese under her wing when the star forward transferred to LSU from Maryland in 2022. The move proved to be career-defining. In her first season with the Tigers, Reese averaged over 23 points and 15 rebounds per game and helped lead LSU to its first-ever national championship in women’s basketball. Along the way, she became one of the faces of college basketball, transcending the sport and entering mainstream culture with her larger-than-life presence.

But behind the fame and flair was hard work—and hard coaching.

“She’s tough, no doubt about it,” Reese said of Mulkey. “She’s going to tell you when you’re not playing up to her standard. She’s going to demand effort, consistency, and maturity. It wasn’t always easy, but I never felt like it wasn’t love. She wanted the best for me. And when I got to the league, I realized how much that helped.”

The relationship between Reese and Mulkey was not without its bumps. Reese, who proudly calls herself the “Bayou Barbie,” has a bold personality that sometimes clashed with Mulkey’s old-school discipline. Yet, those moments of friction were foundational. Reese said Mulkey challenged her to grow—not just as a player, but as a leader and teammate.

“There were times I didn’t like what she said, times I wanted to do things my way,” Reese admitted. “But I always came back to the fact that she’s a winner. She knows how to win, and she knows how to get the best out of her players. Looking back, I’m grateful for every film session she called me out in, every time she told me to get back on defense, every time she pulled me aside to remind me of the bigger picture.”

Mulkey’s influence goes beyond tactics and rebounding technique. Reese said her coach also taught her how to carry herself with pride and confidence, both on and off the court.

“She always told me, ‘Be who you are, but make sure your game backs it up.’ That stuck with me. She never tried to dim my light, but she always made sure I earned my shine.”

In the WNBA, where the level of play rises dramatically and the physicality intensifies, Reese has found that Mulkey’s emphasis on toughness and preparation has been crucial. The transition from college to professional basketball is one of the steepest in all of sports. The pace is faster, the players are stronger, and the margin for error is thinner. Reese, however, has embraced the challenge with a work ethic that reflects her LSU roots.

“I think what separates me is my motor,” she said. “That’s what Coach Mulkey emphasized over and over. ‘Go hard. Every play. Every rep.’ That mindset is what’s keeping me afloat right now in this league full of veterans.”

Beyond the hardwood, Reese is quickly becoming one of the most marketable faces in the WNBA. With NIL deals under her belt from college and a strong social media presence, she has carried her brand seamlessly into the professional ranks. Still, even amid the cameras and endorsements, she credits Mulkey with keeping her grounded.

“Coach Mulkey always reminded me that the cameras go away if your game doesn’t speak,” Reese said. “That stuck with me. I’m going to keep working, keep getting better, and keep proving I belong here.”

While her LSU tenure was just two seasons, Reese said the impact of that experience will last a lifetime. From the national title to the day-to-day grind in practice, she believes everything Mulkey built at LSU helped mold her into a professional.

“I went to LSU to win, to grow, and to be coached by one of the greatest ever. I got all of that and more,” she said. “Coach Mulkey gave me the tools. It’s up to me now to use them.”

Reese also said that watching Mulkey manage a program with high expectations helped her understand the importance of leadership. As she transitions from being a college star to a rookie learning the ropes, she often thinks about how Mulkey handled pressure.

“She taught us how to lead by example,” Reese said. “She didn’t just talk. She worked. She showed up. That’s the kind of energy I’m trying to bring to my new team. I want to earn my teammates’ respect the way Coach earned ours.”

Looking ahead, Reese said her goal is simple: get better every day. Whether that means putting in extra work on her jumper, studying film, or being a better communicator on defense, she’s committed to maximizing her potential. And she knows exactly where that mindset came from.

“Everything I’m doing now—how I train, how I recover, how I lock in mentally—that’s all Mulkey,” Reese said. “She set the standard, and I’m trying to live up to it.”

Though Mulkey remains in Baton Rouge building her next championship-caliber team, her fingerprints are all over Reese’s early pro career. And while their paths have diverged for now, the bond between coach and player remains strong.

“I texted her after my first game,” Reese said with a smile. “She told me she was proud. And that meant the world to me.”

For Angel Reese, the journey from LSU to the WNBA isn’t just about talent or accolades—it’s about the people who believed in her, challenged her, and prepared her for greatness. And at the top of that list is Kim Mulkey.

“I wouldn’t be here without her,” Reese said simply. “She made me ready.”