Angel Reese, known for her candid nature, recently opened up about her relationship with the esteemed coach Kim Mulkey during her time at LSU. While Reese is celebrated for her bold persona, she confessed on her podcast that there was a period when she found it difficult to appreciate Mulkey's tough-love approach.
If you think coaching styles don't have a profound impact, consider this... In a recent episode of her podcast, Reese welcomed basketball coach Teresa Weatherspoon, and together they explored various subjects, including their experiences under coach Mulkey's leadership. Both women, who had the privilege of playing for the iconic coach, acknowledged that Mulkey consistently pushed them to their limits.
Weatherspoon recounted a memorable moment: "She played one time with us. And she said, 'I’m going to show you all why I’m Kim Mulkey. I’m going show you.' We were like, ‘Yeah, this is the time we going to beat the sh–….’, we were coming for her, but she showed us why she was Kim Mulkey. Oh, she was tough. She’s greedy. She’s the same way. All the energy that she coaches with, she played the same way. She’s been doing that the entire time."
Yet, for Angel Reese, the high expectations set by Mulkey didn’t always resonate positively during her early days. "She used to get on me bad, and I used to hate it in the moment. I would think, why is she always on my case like that?" Reese shared. However, it wasn't long before she recognized that Mulkey’s rigorous standards were preparing her for the challenges ahead in her career.
"But then, when I got to the league, I realized, ‘Oh okay, this is a standard.’ There was no walking in practice or being unprepared. When you came to practice, you had to be ready to go... But she did it out of love," the Chicago Sky star elaborated.
Under Mulkey’s mentorship, Reese not only became a national champion but also emerged as one of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball. During her two seasons at LSU, she played a pivotal role in leading the Tigers to the NCAA championship in 2023, achieving remarkable statistics along the way, including a record-breaking 34 double-doubles in just one season.
This isn’t the first time Reese has reflected on her initial disdain for playing under Mulkey, but in hindsight, she feels grateful for the experience. In 2025, she commented, "She prepared me for the WNBA. I think mentally and physically — practices were very long, which made training camp feel much easier for me. No one in coaching can say anything to me that would break me because I’ve been through Kim Mulkey. She tells it like it is, and I value that honesty. At the moment, I disliked it; I won’t lie. I dreaded it and found it unpleasant. Yet, now that I’ve moved on, I realize how thankful I am for that tough love. It didn’t click back then, but now it all makes sense."
As Reese forges her path in the WNBA, she also reflects on another influential figure in her career, Teresa Weatherspoon, who previously coached the Chicago Sky.
The Bayou Barbie made her mark in the WNBA after being drafted as the seventh overall pick by the Chicago Sky in 2024. Given her impressive college performance, it was no surprise that she quickly established herself as a formidable presence on the court, receiving All-Star accolades and dominating the boards.
In her rookie season, Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, thus setting a new WNBA record for the highest rebounding average in a single season. However, despite her individual achievements, the team itself struggled, finishing with a dismal 13-27 record, which ultimately led to the dismissal of coach Weatherspoon.
During their conversation, they reflected on Weatherspoon’s unexpected exit from the Chicago Sky. "Learning about my firing was a tremendous shock," Weatherspoon admitted, noting that she wasn’t even informed in person. Nevertheless, Reese expressed her appreciation for Weatherspoon’s mentorship.
"I think you handled the situation with such grace. It was unfortunate for many of us, more than you might realize. I believe people enter your life for specific reasons, and I think you were there for mine in that crucial time," Reese stated. "I can’t speak for everyone, but I truly believe you came into my life at the right moment, and for that, I am forever grateful. It was the ideal time for both of us."
Despite her sudden departure from the Sky, Weatherspoon has transitioned to coaching in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league for Vinyl BC.
Ultimately, the key takeaway from these discussions is how deeply Angel Reese values the lessons imparted by her coaches, even when those teachings were challenging to accept at the time. It raises an intriguing question: Do you think that tough coaching methods ultimately benefit athletes, or do they create unnecessary pressure? Share your thoughts in the comments!
