‘We ain’t the same’ – Angel Reese’s mom calls out Caitlin Clark fans after ’embarrassing’ LSU homecoming
Angel Reese didn’t get the spectacular LSU homecoming she would have hoped for. Reese and the Chicago Sky took on the Brazil national team in Baton Rouge, the home of LSU, on Friday night and cruised to a 89-62 win — but fans pointed out one disappointing sight. Angel Reese put up a stellar performance on her return to LSUGetty Reese spent two seasons at LSU playing under Kim Mulkey, where she won a national championship in 2023 and rose to stardom. Chicago rookie Hailey Van Lith also returned to LSU after spending the 2023-24 season there before departing for the TCU Horned Frogs. “I created my brand there,” Reese said in the build-up to the game. “I became the Bayou Barbie there. I won a national championship there. That’s home for me.” However, despite playing in front of the LSU crowd for the first time in over a year, the area was not filled. In fact, the total attendance for the preseason contest was 6,373, less than half of the PMAC’s max capacity of 13,215. The WNBA posted footage of the game and fans online were quick to slam the vacant seats. “Where all the LSU fans at?? Why isn’t Angel Reese homecoming game at LSU sold out??? The upper bowl is empty!!!” wrote one fan. “What kind of shocking crowd is this, embarrassing for a LSU champion,” one fan posted. “LSU I’m calling yall out. Angel Reese is back at home and that should’ve been a sold out arena,” another added. Angel Reese was celebrated by her former coach Kim MulkeyGetty Fans pointed to the upper bowl being empty@WNBA Angel Reese still enjoyed her homecoming as she impressed with her performanceGetty Reese’s mom — also called Angel — fired back on her own account, referring to ‘that certain fanbase’ in a thinly-veiled dig at Clark’s supporters. “Aww that certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating ‘attendance’ while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners. We ain’t the same. Different year same haters. Have a great day,” she posted. Before the game had started, a ceremony to celebrate Van Lith and Reese took place with their former coach Mulkey handing out gifts to the two stars. Nevertheless with an empty upper bowl and disappointing crowd, it wasn’t the special night, many had hoped it would be. Fans were also to draw comparisons to Caitlin Clark‘s college homecoming as her Indiana Fever‘s clash against Brazil at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4 saw unprecedented interest. “Not even 50 percent sold out is crazy. Carver-Hawkeye sold out (15,000) in 27 minutes,” one fan wrote on X. Tickets for that game are on resale and are priced at $400, a stunning figure for a pre-season clash. Nevertheless, for Reese the most important aspect of the night would have been to put in a good performance as she ramps up her preparations for the looming WNBA season. And she did just that, putting up 15 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes on the floor. Last season, Reese averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists before injury ended her campaign early, making the WNBA All-Star and All-Rookie teams. In 2025, Reese wants even more, and she’s made her ambitions clear. “I’m still doing my post work, but I’ve got to come with more this year,” she told the Chicago Tribune. “I’ve got to be able to shoot the mid-range shot, 10 to 15 feet, be able to shoot the 3, the 2 consistently. I work every day on it, so I’ve got to take the shots.” The WNBA regular season begins on May 17 with Reese’s Sky taking on Clark’s Fever on the opening Saturday of the season.
Angel Reese didn’t get the spectacular LSU homecoming she would have hoped for.
Reese and the Chicago Sky took on the Brazil national team in Baton Rouge, the home of LSU, on Friday night and cruised to a 89-62 win — but fans pointed out one disappointing sight.
Reese spent two seasons at LSU playing under Kim Mulkey, where she won a national championship in 2023 and rose to stardom.
Chicago rookie Hailey Van Lith also returned to LSU after spending the 2023-24 season there before departing for the TCU Horned Frogs.
“I created my brand there,” Reese said in the build-up to the game.
“I became the Bayou Barbie there. I won a national championship there. That’s home for me.”
However, despite playing in front of the LSU crowd for the first time in over a year, the area was not filled.
In fact, the total attendance for the preseason contest was 6,373, less than half of the PMAC’s max capacity of 13,215.
The WNBA posted footage of the game and fans online were quick to slam the vacant seats.
“Where all the LSU fans at?? Why isn’t Angel Reese homecoming game at LSU sold out??? The upper bowl is empty!!!” wrote one fan.
“What kind of shocking crowd is this, embarrassing for a LSU champion,” one fan posted.
“LSU I’m calling yall out. Angel Reese is back at home and that should’ve been a sold out arena,” another added.
Reese’s mom — also called Angel — fired back on her own account, referring to ‘that certain fanbase’ in a thinly-veiled dig at Clark’s supporters.
“Aww that certain fan base looking in the stands celebrating ‘attendance’ while others are looking up in the rafters celebrating championship banners. We ain’t the same. Different year same haters. Have a great day,” she posted.
Before the game had started, a ceremony to celebrate Van Lith and Reese took place with their former coach Mulkey handing out gifts to the two stars.
Nevertheless with an empty upper bowl and disappointing crowd, it wasn’t the special night, many had hoped it would be.
Fans were also to draw comparisons to Caitlin Clark‘s college homecoming as her Indiana Fever‘s clash against Brazil at Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena on May 4 saw unprecedented interest.
“Not even 50 percent sold out is crazy. Carver-Hawkeye sold out (15,000) in 27 minutes,” one fan wrote on X.
Tickets for that game are on resale and are priced at $400, a stunning figure for a pre-season clash.
Nevertheless, for Reese the most important aspect of the night would have been to put in a good performance as she ramps up her preparations for the looming WNBA season.
And she did just that, putting up 15 points, 10 rebounds and two steals in just 16 minutes on the floor.
Last season, Reese averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists before injury ended her campaign early, making the WNBA All-Star and All-Rookie teams.
In 2025, Reese wants even more, and she’s made her ambitions clear.
“I’m still doing my post work, but I’ve got to come with more this year,” she told the Chicago Tribune.
“I’ve got to be able to shoot the mid-range shot, 10 to 15 feet, be able to shoot the 3, the 2 consistently. I work every day on it, so I’ve got to take the shots.”
The WNBA regular season begins on May 17 with Reese’s Sky taking on Clark’s Fever on the opening Saturday of the season.
