The sensational drama surrounding Angel Reese’s absence at LSU has obscured so much else that’s happening in women’s college basketball.
And that includes another vanishing act on the defending national champions.
Reese, LSU’s superstar forward, has missed the Lady Tigers’ past four games since she was benched at halftime of a Nov. 14 game.
In her absence, firebrand LSU coach Kim Mulkey has offered precious little explanation and only shreds of innuendo as rumors swirl.
During the same time frame, Kateri Poole — a senior guard from The Bronx who was expected to be a key reserve on the team — also has missed four games.
Poole did not play in the Nov. 14 game against Kent State, returned to play a mere five minutes in the Tigers’ Nov. 17 game against Southeastern Louisiana and then missed the following three games, including not appearing to be with the team on its recent trip to the Cayman Islands Classic, from which Reese also was absent.
LSU guard Kateri Poole.AP
LSU’s Angel Reese.AP
It is unclear whether the two absences are related.
Notably, Reese and Poole are said to be longtime friends and were on the same recruiting visit to LSU when they decided to transfer there prior to the 2022-23 season.
While Reese has not spoken publicly about her hiatus, offering a few allusions on social media, Mulkey has declined to classify Reese’s situation — or Poole’s, for that matter.
LSU celebrates a win in October 2023.AP
“You always have to deal with locker room issues,” Mulkey said on Nov. 20 in response to a question about Reese. “That’s just part of coaching. In 40 years, I can never think of a time where I didn’t have to deal with issues. That’s what coaches do. Sometimes y’all know about it and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you want to know more than you’re entitled to know.
“I’m going to protect my players, always. They are more important. It’s like a family. If you do some disciplining of your own children, do you think we’re entitled to know that? That’s a family in that locker room.”
No. 7 LSU (7-1) returns to action Thursday night in a top-10 showdown against No. 9 Virginia Tech — a rematch of a 2023 Final Four game — as part of ESPN’s ACC/SEC Challenge.
