ALBANY, N.Y. — Angel Reese stood on the sideline with no basketball left to play. A cacophony of sounds broke out around her. Boos from LSU fans upset at the game’s officials. Cheers from Iowa supporters who watched Reese foul out with 1:45 remaining. A clash of reactions fitting for Monday night’s much-anticipated bout. But like she has done for four seasons, her last two at LSU, Reese blocked out the noise around her and heard only the sounds from her teammates.
Guard Flau’jae Johnson walked off of the bench to stand by Reese’s side. They put their arms around each other. Reese told Johnson to keep leading the team, to keep fighting. The Tigers trailed by 10 points. Johnson said to Reese: “Cheer us on. Cheer us on. Keep us going.”
“That’s all I could do right there,” Johnson said.
That’s all Reese could do, too. After a 36-minute, 17-point, 20-rebound showing, she watched the final 105 seconds of No. 3 LSU’s 94-87 loss to No. 1 seed Iowa in the Elite Eight from the bench. It was perhaps the last time she wouldd wear a Tigers jersey.
Johnson later ensured Reese’s place in LSU history received proper context. She credited Reese for her strength and leadership, for thriving despite facing national scrutiny and often unfair criticism.
“Everybody can have…
