How Angel Reese’s fire ignites LSU’s March Madness mission

ANGEL REESE CATCHES a pass just beyond the free throw line, steps into the shot and lets it fly over South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso’s outstretched hand.

The LSU superstar drains the jumper — not the type of bucket she’s known for — to tie the SEC championship game earlier this month. She holds her follow-through as she backpedals down the court.

On the other end of the floor in Greenville, South Carolina, Reese bangs her body against Cardoso’s. As Cardoso turns to try to post Reese up, Reese pushes her forearm into Cardoso’s back. Cardoso disengages, and Reese starts talking. And keeps talking. She jaws at Cardoso and nods her head. Cardoso responds with a smile and bumps her way back into the lane. Reese keeps pushing, and LSU forward Aneesah Morrow makes a steal and sprints for a breakaway layup.

Reese vs. Cardoso is just getting started.

Halfway through the second quarter, Flau’jae Johnson shoots a 3-pointer from the wing and Cardoso turns around to box out Reese. Quick on her feet, Reese sees the ball approaching the hoop and circles away from Cardoso. When the ball drops through the net, Reese stretches out her left arm, grabs a fistful of Cardoso’s hair and tugs as she trots away.

During the next LSU possession, Reese cuts through the lane and heads for the block. With two hands, Cardoso shoves her in the back. Reese pivots and throws an elbow into Cardoso’s face. Reese is called for an offensive foul and it’s upgraded to an intentional. It’s her second foul of the game. She heads to the bench.

They’re far from finished.

With just over four minutes to go in the game and South Carolina leading by one, Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson pulls up for a jumper. Tangled up with Cardoso, Reese stretches out a hand to contest. Cardoso tries to get around Reese, but Reese catches her in the mouth with her arm and busts open her lip.

Cardoso’s lip is still bloody when, two game minutes later, she body checks Flau’jae Johnson near half court when a dust-up breaks out. Cardoso is ejected, along with nearly the entire benches of both teams after players swarmed to the action. Reese, the newly minted SEC player of the year, stands off to the side. She never joins the scuffle. Instead, she limps to the end of the bench and sits down to talk to a trainer.

“As a person at my STATUS, sometimes you have to walk away from certain situations,” Reese posts on X after LSU’s 79-72 loss. “Mind you the play before that I had rolled my ankle AGAIN and was already walking to the bench. I ALWAYS ride for mine. I’m super proud of this team & super excited for march.”