Angel Reese’s departure from LSU has left the Tigers with a gaping leadership void – but women’s basketball assistant coach Seimone Augustus is confident that young players on Kim Mulkey’s squad will step up to the task.

In the absence of Reese – who was selected seventh overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2024 WNBA Draft – No. 7-seeded LSU boasts a perfect 3-0 record with wins over Eastern Kentucky, Northwestern State, and Charleston Southern. Despite the promising start, Augustus conceded that the Tigers are still struggling to replace the star forward.

“Angel was the leader,” she said while appearing on the ‘In Case You Missed It’ podcast with Khristina Williams. “Angel was like a leader on and off the court, points, rebounds, everything. So now we get to see a new set of leaders, a new set of followers, a new set of competitors. Like, who’s going to step up to this challenge and fill that role?”

The task at hand is easier said than done given Reese’s immense impact in Baton Rouge. After spending her first two seasons at the collegiate level with Maryland, she immediately made her impact felt at LSU upon transferring there her junior year, propelling the Tigers to an NCAA championship in 2023 – the first in the history of the program.

The following season, Reese led the SEC in scoring and rebounding for the second year in a row en route to being named the 2024 SEC Player of the Year. In a rematch of the national championship game from 2023, LSU would fall to Caitlin Clark and Iowa, 94-87, in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

According to Augustus, however, Reese’s play on the court wasn’t the only thing that set her apart from the rest. “It didn’t take her a year to lead the team in scoring and help them to the national title. As a leader, Reese also took accountability for the results; she understood her role and acted upon it,” she revealed.

Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news

LSU is suffering from a leadership void in the absence of Angel Reese

LSU is suffering from a leadership void in the absence of Angel Reese ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

While Augustus conceded that it’d be near-impossible to find another all-around player quite like Reese, she’s encouraged the next wave of talent to assume larger roles that are now open. “But who are you now that Angel has been removed? What is your identity?” she asked.

“Over the last few weeks, we were starting to see they starting to learn how tough it is to lead and also how tough it is to follow, and also bring your best every day and make sure that your teammates are emotionally okay, and make sure the coaches are all right. It’s like a process, but it’s a beautiful mix of chaos that has a number of opportunities for them all to grow.”

Mulkey, meanwhile, believes it’s only a matter of time before Reese’s shoes are filled by a big personality. “I don’t think there was ever any pressure even when Angel was here,” she said when asked if there was a greater pressure on LSU without Reese.

“She had a different personality, and I told you many times I coached some big personalities, and somebody in this bunch will have the big personality.”