Angel Reese rejoins LSU as injury issues mount

Angel Reese is back with LSU and available to play for the Lady Tigers on Thursday in a showdown with Virginia Tech in Baton Rouge, La.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey said Reese "will play tomorrow" and expects "Angel to be Angel" for the rematch with Virginia Tech of their Final Four semifinal in March. LSU won 79-72 behind Reese's 24 points, 12 rebounds and three steals.

Reese hasn't been with the team since Nov. 14, when Mulkey cited a "coach's decision" for benching her for the entire second half of the LSU victory over Kent State.

Her return could be just in time. Virginia Tech is off to a 5-1 start with its lone loss to Iowa (80-76) behind 44 points from Caitlin Clark.

Sophomore forward Sa'Myah Smith will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, Mulkey confirmed on Wednesday, and All-American Hailey Van Lith is dealing with a chronic foot issue.

"She has plantar fasciitis, and when that stretched a little bit — it hurts," Mulkey said. "But I think she's good to go, unless I go to (practice) and they tell me she can't go."

Mulkey also confirmed guard Kateri Poole (undisclosed) is not "yet" back with the team.

A key player early in the 2023-24 season, Smith averaged 11.7 points and 7.6 rebounds in the first seven games. Smith has a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus, Mulkey said.

Reese averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds the first four games of the season. She averaged 23 points and 15.4 rebounds per game last season.

—Field Level Media