There is no seeing Angel Reese in the Cayman Islands.
The LSU star missed Friday’s 99-65 win over Niagara at the Cayman Islands Classic basketball tournament, her third straight absence in a continuation of the drama that’s unfolded around the Lady Tigers this season.
Reese and Kateri Poole did not travel with the team and will miss also No. 7 LSU’s matchup with Virginia on Saturday, per reports.
“You will know when she comes back,” LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said of Reese following a win over Niagara on Friday, per ESPN. “Obviously she’s not with us.”
The forward, who went viral last season for flashing wrestler John Cena’s “You can’t see me” hand gesture at Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, has not suited up since being benched for the second half of a win over Kent State on Nov. 14, causing rumors and questions about her status.
Teammate Kateri Poole is also believed to have not joined the team at the tournament.
Friday’s tip-off was delayed 40 minutes by a fire alarm in John Gray Gymnasium.
On Wednesday, Reese posted a video to Instagram as her LSU teammates traveled to the tournament, staring at the camera as Deion Sanders’ voice asked: “What about me would make you think that I care about your opinion of me?”
Mulkey has refused to provide any clarity about one of the faces of her program — and did not say whether Reese would join her teammates in the Caymans.
Reese hasn’t suited up since being benched in the second half of a game on Nov. 14. AP“If I had I wouldn’t tell you,” she said after last week’s 102-47 win over Texas Southern in a testy exchange with reporters. “You’re not entitled to that information.”
“You always have to deal with locker-room issues. Sometimes you all know about them. Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you want to know more than you’re entitled to,” Mulkey added. “I’m going to protect my players — always. They are like a family.”
A report from Outkick claimed Reese had been benched to give her an “attitude adjustment” and led to social media drama involving Reese’s mom, Angel Reese Webb, and LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson’s mother, Kia Brooks.
Reese starred in leading the Lady Tigers to a national championship last season. APThe 21-year-old is one of the top women’s NIL earners with a valuation of more than $1 million.
She set an NCAA record with 34 double-doubles last season, leading the Lady Tigers to an NCAA title.
After the returning from the Caymans, LSU will take on Virginia Tech on Nov. 30 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge in a Final Four rematch.
