Playing under a coach who loves to test your limits is not for the weak, and it was not any different for Angel Reese either.

On January 30, the Vinyl coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, graced Reese's Unapologetically Angel podcast. Besides other discussions, the Chicago Sky star shared what it was like spending her collegiate basketball career under LSU Coach Kim Mulkey.

Reese resorted to an unfiltered approach for the purpose. She said, "She used to get on me bad, and I used to hate it in the moment. I used to [think,] like, 'Why is she always on me like that?'" But it did not take her long to realise what Mulkey's "tough love" was for.

"She prepared me for the WNBA. In the moment, I hated it, I'm not gonna lie... And then when I left, I was really thankful for that moment. It didn't make sense in the moment, but now it all makes sense," Reese said in 2025, before a pre-season game between the Chicago Sky and the Brazilian National team.

Reese had major success during her tenure at LSU. She led the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA Championship in 2023 and won other titles. And in the WNBA, she set multiple single-season rebounding and double-double records. While Reese understood Mulkey’s tough love later, the appreciation came from the opposite side as well.

Kim Mulkey Lauds Angel Reese's Competitive Nature

Reese returned to play at the LSU campus in 2025 against the Brazilian National Team. And after her former student led the Chicago Sky to victory, Mulkey had only nice things to say.

“Angel just has a personality. She just attracts a lot of attention, and she's authentic, and she's a competitor. What is there not to like about Angel Reese when you're pulling for her, and she's on your team?” the coach said.

"I think that when you play this game, you play it hard, and Angel played hard. There were moments where she would get tired and fatigued, and I would push her to fight through that, and I'm sure she didn't like me many times, but that's OK, it's not personal”, she admitted.

While Mulkey’s ways were hard for Reese, they made her tougher so that she could shine at the highest level. When Reese takes to the WNBA court for the Skys in May, what new record do you think she will create? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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Written by

Deblina Roy

Edited by

Souvik Roy