LSU's Kim Mulkey honors outgoing star Angel Reese as she prepares for WNBA Draft amid anthem uproar: Coach says 'soon-to-be graduate inspired countless individuals' and tells her to 'keep growing the game'

Angel Reese's critics may remember her college basketball career for a few controversies, but to the coach who knows her best, Bayou Barbie was instrumentally important to the women's game.

LSU's Kim Mulkey paid tribute to her outgoing power forward on social media following the Tigers' season-ending loss to Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite 8.

Using three 'checkmark' emojis, Mulkey listed three of Reese's most important accomplishments from her time in Baton Rouge: 'National Champion; Soon-to-be graduate of @LSU; Inspired countless individuals, young & old.'

She left Reese with one final message: 'Keep growing the game @angelreese10.'

Reese, a 6-foot-3 junior, announced her decision to declare for this month's WNBA Draft this week following Monday's loss in Albany, where the Baltimore native was at the center of controversy once again. This time the uproar was focused on LSU's absence from the court during the pre-game playing of the national anthem.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey hugs forward Angel Reese late in the second half of a recent win

Head Coach Kim Mulkey of the LSU Tigers celebrates with Angel Reese after a Sweet 16 win

Louisiana State coach Kim Mulkey's message to Angel Reese: 'Keep growing the game'

But unlike the Colin Kaepernick's protests against racist police brutality during his days in the NFL, Reese and her teammates didn't appear to be sending a message. Rather, their pre-game routine simply conflicted with the NCAA's and as a result, LSU was still in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem.

'Honestly, I don't even know when the anthem was played,' Mulkey said after Monday's loss. 'We kind of have a routine when they're on the floor and they come off at the 12-minute mark. I don't know, we come in and we do our pregame stuff. I'm sorry, listen, that's nothing intentionally done.'

The star power forward known for her eyelash extensions, painted fingernails and ferocious play in the paint formally declared for the WNBA draft on Wednesday.

Reese, whose career interests also include modeling and fashion, announced her decision via a photo shoot in Vogue, saying she was inspired by tennis great Serena Williams announcing her retirement in 2022 in a similar manner.

Up until LSU's season ended, Reese publicly left open the option of returning to the Tigers. But she acknowledged having made up her mind to turn pro before March Madness began.

'I've done everything I wanted to in college,' added Reese, who also has expressed interest in playing professionally in Europe during the WNBA offseason. 'I've won a national championship, I've gotten [SEC] Player of the Year, I've been an All-American. My ultimate goal is to be a pro — and to be one of the greatest basketball players to play, ever. I feel like I'm ready.'

Head coach Kim Mulkey of the LSU Lady Tigers talks with Angel Reese during the SEC tourney

Reese, a dynamic, 6-foot-3 forward who can run the floor, guard the perimeter and block shots anywhere, likely will join Clark, the expected No. 1 pick by Indiana, as one of the top players drafted on April 15. Draft analysts have projected Reese as a seventh or eighth overall choice. An undeveloped outside shot is among the few questions about her game as she leaves college.

Reese spent the evening after the announcement taking in an NBA game in New Orleans between the Orlando Magic and the Pelicans. She sat courtside with former LSU teammate Amani Bartlett, known for placing a crown on Reese's head during pregame introductions this past season. Reese was shown on the arena video board, drawing enthusiastic applause.

Reese grew up in Baltimore and began her college career at Maryland, where her brother, Julian, plays for the men's team. She transferred to LSU in 2022 and the Tigers won the program's only national title in Reese's first season.

'She helped transform our program,' LSU coach Kim Mulkey said. 'We are all indebted to Angel Reese for the contributions she has given to this program, helping us win our first national championship, and the contributions she made on our university as a whole.'

Angel Reese offers some trash talk to Caitlin Clark during the 2024 NCAA Championship 

Reese registered 61 double-doubles for the Tigers in two seasons. Only Sylvia Fowles had more double-doubles at LSU.

Reese averaged 20.9 points and 14.4 rebounds per game at LSU, including seven games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. Reese became the first SEC player since Vanderbilt's Wendy Scholtens in 1989 and 1990 to lead the league in both scoring and rebounding in consecutive seasons.

This season, Reese was named the SEC Player of the Year. Reese has played four college seasons but was among those athletes granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA because their careers overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic.

'When she came here, she said she wanted to be here for two seasons and she has lived up to that,' Mulkey said. 'What a remarkable two years it has been.

'She not only helped grow our program but had an impact on growing the game of women's basketball across the country,' Mulkey added. 'We wish her good luck as she moves to the WNBA and look forward to see all that she accomplishes.'

Reese burst onto the scene during LSU's championship run last year as an extremely talented basketball player and dynamic personality — accessible and engaging with fans and media off the court, and trash talking in the faces of her opponents on it. Reese grew up playing basketball with her brother and other boys in Baltimore, and she has said that forced her to become physically and mentally tough on the court.

Since winning the title, Reese said there has been increased scrutiny of her, but she maintained that she would continue to be 'unapologetically me.'

Reese and Mulkey had their heated moments, but the pair remained respectful of each other

Her LSU teammates, who sometimes referred to her as 'the queen,' defended her leadership and what she's been through — including a time earlier this season when she was suspended by Mulkey for four games right before Thanksgiving — time she used to take a self-described mental health break.

'Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y'all don't know her,' Flau'jae Johnson said. 'I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring, loving person. But the crown she wears is heavy. She's the type of teammate that's going to make you believe in yourself.'

Players not competing in the Elite Eight had until Monday to renounce their remaining eligibility. Players like Reese, who were competing in the Elite Eight or beyond, had about 48 hours after their final game to make their decision.

In what was her final college game, Reese injured her ankle in the second quarter against Iowa and still finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out in the final two minutes of the game.

Reese was one of the top NIL earners in college, with a valuation of $1.8 million, according toOn3.com. She's had marketing relationships with Coach, Reebok and Mercedes-Benz. Many of those deals could now become the type of endorsements on which professional athletes typically cash in.