Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
In this corner is LSU star forward Angel Reese, the “Bayou Barbie,” fresh off winning a national title and waving it in Caitlin Clark’s face before enjoying newfound wealth and fame.
In the other corner is LSU head coach Kim Mulkey, the Louisiana native and Hall of Famer, fresh off signing a $32 million contract after snagging the title in her second season back home.
Who ya got?
I don’t know what Reese did — or failed to do — that’s caused her to miss LSU’s last two games, with no explanation from Mulkey. But it’s kind of like when you roll up and see a family member being physically attacked. You instinctively side with them, no questions asked, though later you might learn they were dead wrong.
Or, like when a friend does a no-show-no-call when you expected them to be somewhere. When you don’t know what’s happening, worrying can take root. You just hope everything’s OK. But at the same time, you know you’ll be livid if they’re fine and don’t have a legitimate excuse.
We expected to see Reese play Monday against Texas Southern and last week against Southeastern Louisiana. We expect her to accompany the team Wednesday when it travels for this weekend’s Cayman Islands Classic But there’s no telling based on Mulkey’s veiled comments about “locker-room issues” and “no matter what the [name, image and likeness] is, no matter what they do in pros, this is college.”
Gimme Reese.
Yes, it’s totally possible Reese did something to warrant her de facto suspension, a punishment we might easily accept as reasonable based on the offense. But Mulkey hasn’t offered an explanation. And without sharing one, she doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt. She lost…
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