LSU W Basketball

LSU star forward Angel Reese is one of the most recognizable women's basketball players in the nation, but she won't be able to profit off one of her nicknames anytime soon.

Per Pete Nakos of On3.com, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denied Reese's request to trademark "Bayou Barbie" in November.

Nakos added that Reese's camp has decided to abandon the attempt to trademark the moniker after missing the 90-day deadline to submit arguments to support her case. Because no arguments were filed, the case is now considered "dead."

The USPTO stated in its filing denying the trademark that a likelihood of confusion was one of the reasons for the denial, as the trademark for Barbie is owned by the toy company Mattel.

"We discussed internally and determined that it was in Angel's best interest to not unnecessarily instigate Mattel," said IP and NIL attorney Darren Heitner, who filed the trademark paperwork on Reese's behalf. "While initially it seemed worthy to obtain the registration, Angel has pivoted away from selling Bayou Barbie merchandise. As such, the appropriate business decision was made to simply let the application abandon."

Reese was dubbed "Bayou Barbie" last season while she helped lead LSU to its first national championship and was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA women's tournament. While she has a dominant and physical style of play, she wears eyelash extensions and long pink nails during games. Under NIL rules, she would've been able to monetize the trademark.

"She loves the color pink," Reese's agent Jeanine Ogbonnaya previously told Nakos. "She's always getting her hair and nails done for games. So that definitely plays a big part into it."

Despite losing out on the trademark, Reese remains one of the highest-earning college athletes from NIL deals. She announced a multi-year partnership with Reebok in October and she is signed on as an ambassador for the multicultural hair care brand Mielle Organics. She was also featured in the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.

Caitlin Clark is drawing high praise after breaking the NCAA women's basketball scoring record Thursday night.

Among those complimenting Clark on the impressive feat was LSU's Angel Reese, who posted her congratulations on X.

Congratulations @CaitlinClark22 KEEP BREAKING RECORDS & MAKING HER-STORY! 🖤💛🔥 https://t.co/jWn7QZZdkQ

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) February 16, 2024

Heading into Thursday night's game between Iowa and Michigan, Clark was just eight points away from breaking Kelsey Plum's record, and she wasted no time reaching that mark. It took Clark a little more than two minutes to reach the record-breaking number, and she did it the only way she knew how, hitting a deep transition three.

BROKE THE RECORD IN CAITLIN CLARK FASHION 🐐

(via @BigTenNetwork)pic.twitter.com/LHDWuurWrK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 16, 2024

Clark finished the first quarter with 23 points, and her scoring didn't slow down, as she dropped a whopping 49 points in a win over the Wolverines. She came into Thursday's game with 3,520 points and now firmly holds the record with 3,569 career points and counting.

Clark and Reese have been arguably the best two players in women's college basketball over the past few seasons, and the two competed in the national championship last year. In LSU's win over Iowa last season, Clark dropped 30 points and Reese had 15 as the two competed all night.

Reese paid her respects to Clark on Thursday, but if the two meet again in this year's tournament, Reese will likely set the niceties aside.

The rivalry between LSU's Angel Reese and Iowa's Caitlin Clark may have made national headlines during the 2023 women's NCAA Tournament championship game, but Reese says there are no hard feelings between the competitors.

"I love that we're able to compete and still be cool after, regardless of the outside noise," Reese told Amanda Lucci of Women's Health.

"People even say Magic and Larry Bird, that era and how it was. If that's who we are, then okay, cool.…I think we're both happy about what's going on."

Reese went viral last April after she taunted Clark using the same "you can't see me" taunt Clark had used against Louisville during an Elite Eight game that Iowa won earlier in the tournament.

The moment sparked a national debate and criticism of Reese that Clark later said wasn't deserved.

"I don't think Angel should be criticized at all," Clark told ESPN's Michael Voepel after LSU's championship win. "I'm just one that competes, and she competed... Angel is a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her."

Reese and Clark have been competing against each other since high school, when they both played in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU.) Reese has previously expressed hope that the two will one day play for the same team.

For now, Reese and Clark are at least likely to remain in the same league. Clark, the anticipated No. 1 pick, and Reese are both likely first-round selections in the 2024 WNBA draft.

The reigning champions are having some trouble.

Unranked Mississippi State defeated No. 9 LSU 77-73 in Monday's SEC women's basketball showdown, which means the Tigers have now lost two straight and three of their last five. They also lost to Auburn on Jan. 14 and No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday.

According to ESPN, the only other reigning national champion to lose back-to-back games in the last decade was the 2017-18 Gamecocks team, which dropped two straight to UConn and Mississippi State.

That feeling when you secure your first top-10 win since 2018 💪🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 IG / @HailStateWBK pic.twitter.com/H07cL4xhuJ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 30, 2024

JerKaila Jordan starred in the Bulldogs' upset with 24 points, five steals, four rebounds and two assists. She was the only starter for the home team to score in double figures, although Darrione Rogers (19 points on 4-of-8 shooting from three-point range and three rebounds) and Mjracle Sheppard (12 points, six steals, five assists and four rebounds) provided an important spark off the bench.

While Mississippi State was strong on the defensive end for much of the game and forced 21 LSU turnovers, it struggled to slow down Angel Reese.

The LSU star impressed with 20 points, 18 rebounds, five steals and two assists, although it wasn't enough with fellow star Hailey Van Lith struggling on the way to four points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.

The Tigers were down by as many as nine in the fourth quarter, but it seemed like they might steal a win when a late run closed the deficit to three in the final two minutes.

However, Rogers hit the biggest shot of the game with a three-pointer to push the lead back to six and then fittingly hit the free throw to all but ice it in the final seconds.

The dagger. 😮‍💨@SamPurcellMSU’s reaction. 😂@HailStateWBK x @espnW pic.twitter.com/uvXAITdXRH

— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) January 30, 2024

Mississippi State improved to 17-5 overall and 4-3 in the SEC, while LSU fell to 18-4 on the season and 5-3 in conference play.

Both teams are looking up at undefeated South Carolina, which is 19-0 on the campaign and 7-0 in the SEC.

LSU star Angel Reese was happy to be back on the court for the seventh-ranked Tigers' 82-64 win over No. 9 Virginia Tech on Thursday.

"It was a long two weeks to be away from the team," she told reporters after the game. "I'm just happy to be back and this place was amazing tonight."

Reese played 29 minutes Thursday and finished with 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists and one steal.

The Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA tournament had last played in a 109-79 victory over Kent State on Nov. 14, a game in which she didn't play any of the second half. Her absence had become one of the biggest stories in college basketball.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey declined to disclose why Reese wasn't with the team but hinted it was due to disciplinary reasons. She said on Nov. 20 that coaches "always have to deal with locker room issues" and didn't think there was a need to publicize the details.

"I'm going to protect my players, always," Mulkey said. "It's like a family. If you do some disciplining of your own children, do you think we're entitled to know that? That's a family in that locker room."

Reese remained largely silent as well aside from attempting to dispel unsubstantiated rumors regarding her situation:

please don’t believe everything you read.

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 19, 2023

It appears the matter is now in the past. Beyond the fact Reese looked like her usual self in her return, Mulkey credited her with "how she handled herself."

"She's back to the Angel everybody knows," the coach said.

LSU improved to 8-1 with Thursday's win as it continues its national title defense. The Tigers figure to continue their strong start until their next matchup with a ranked opponent, Jan. 7 on the road against No. 19 Ole Miss.

After a four-game absence, Angel Reese was back on the floor for No. 7 LSU in Thursday's marquee matchup against No. 9 Virginia Tech.

It took a little time for her to get going, but Reese looked like her old self as she helped lead the Tigers to an 82-64 win over the Hokies, the team's eighth straight since being upset in its season opener. The star forward finished with 19 points and nine rebounds in the victory.

Reese battled foul trouble throughout the game but managed to play through it. She struggled a bit with her efficiency, shooting 5-of-10 from the field. However, she did a great job of attacking the Virginia Tech defense and getting to the line, as she made nine of her 16 free throws.

LSU had four players in double figures in Thursday's contest, which was a rematch from last season's Final Four. Mikaylah Williams led the way with 20 points while Aneesah Williams posted 19 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Flaujae Johnson added 13 points and eight rebounds.

Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey earned her 700th career win, becoming the fastest coach in men's or women's Division I history to achieve the feat.

However, it was Reese who was the star of the night as fans on social media showed her love in her return:

some of you talked realllllllll bad about Angel Reese & the leadership of this team over the last few weeks.

let your apology be as loud as your disrespect was, please!!!

— Dailey Joy (@daileyjoyf) December 1, 2023

It’s good to see Angel Reese back on the court doing her thing!.. them LSU girls looked loaded tonight

— C. Hill (@ChrisJustChilln) December 1, 2023

After a tumultuous few weeks for LSU, they come away with a huge top-10 win over Virginia Tech, 82-64. 20 points for Mikaylah Williams, 19 + 15 for Aneesah Morrow and 19 + 9 for Angel Reese in her return.

Georgia Amoore led the Hokies with 25 points.

— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) December 1, 2023

ANGEL REESE IS BAAAAACK! #NCAAW

— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA) December 1, 2023

Welcome back Angel Reese

— LSU_Capital (@lsu_capital) December 1, 2023

Fans are happy Angel Reese is back.#LSU pic.twitter.com/AXohP1rmwV

— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) December 1, 2023

The facts are Angel Reese has been a team player and leader!

— ZekeHoops (@HandsOffAssata) December 1, 2023

Angel Reese being back obviously makes a huge difference but when Aneesah Morrow is playing the way she is LSU is so hard to play

— Claire Watkins (@ScoutRipley) December 1, 2023

https://twitter.com/DaShooterMac/status/1730415493750612195

I really don’t like the Angel Reese hate train she never did anything but play basketball!!! It’s her first game back with a new team she gone get right!!!!

— Bre (@Queenbreee____) December 1, 2023

Welcome back, Angel! @LSUwbkb #LSU

Angel Reese pumped up after first basket in return https://t.co/dsfcTWCbyp

— Brooke Steach (@BrookeSteach) December 1, 2023

Glad Angel Reese is back on the court. Hope things go well here on in.

— Big Tim (@tdc200) December 1, 2023

Now that Reese is back, LSU will have a stronger chance at defending its national championship. She will only get better as she continues to return to form.

Reese and LSU (8-1) will be back in action on Dec. 10 at home against Louisiana.

The No. 7 LSU Tigers are set to get one of their best players back on the floor ahead of Thursday's marquee matchup against the No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies.

Per Brett Martel of the San Diego Union-Tribune, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said star forward Angel Reese will return after missing the last four games for undisclosed reasons.

Mulkey didn't clarify whether Reese will be starting or coming off the bench against the Hokies. While the junior has been away from the team for the past two weeks, Mulkey has declined to offer an explanation for her absence beyond saying it was due to unspecified "locker room issues." LSU (7-1) managed to win all four of its games without her.

Reese, who is one of the most popular players in all of college basketball, missed the Tigers' wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Texas Southern and also didn't travel with the team for the Cayman Islands Classic over Thanksgiving weekend. LSU defeated Niagra and Virginia in the holiday tournament.

Reese started the first four games of the season before being benched for the second half of LSU's victory against Kent State on Nov. 14. She averaged 17.0 points and 10.3 rebounds, but she connected on just 46.9 percent of her field goals.

All those numbers are down from Reese's immaculate 2022-23 campaign in which she was named a unanimous All-American after averaging 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks while shooting 52.5 percent from the field. She set an NCAA record with 34 double-doubles and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament after leading LSU to its first national championship in program history.

Getting Reese back will surely boost LSU's chances of duplicating its success from last season in 2023-24.

LSU star Angel Reese is going to miss her third consecutive game for unspecified reasons.

Per Lindsay Schnell of USA Today, Reese was not with the team prior to tipoff of Friday's game against Niagara.

Zack Nagy of LSU Country noted the junior forward didn't travel with the Tigers to the Cayman Islands and will also miss Saturday's game against Virginia.

Reese played in each of LSU's first four games this season, but she was benched at halftime of a Nov. 14 win over Kent State.

Head coach Kim Mulkey called it a "coach's decision" and suggested she would have more to say on it but "I won't."

After Reese wasn't on the bench for LSU's wins over Southeast Louisiana and Texas Southern, Mulkey was asked about the situation but once again declined to offer specific details.

"Angel was not in uniform. She is a part of this basketball team," Mulkey told reporters on Monday. "We hope she's back with the team soon. I'm not going to answer any more than that."

Reese hasn't said anything publicly about the situation, though she has made a couple of posts on social media. The 21-year-old wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging people to "please don't believe everything you read."

please don’t believe everything you read.

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 19, 2023

The Athletic's Ben Pickman noted Reese also posted a video on her Instagram stories of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders saying: "Look at me. What about me would make you think that I care about your opinion of me? Your opinion of me is not the opinion that I have of myself. You ain't make me, so you can't break me. You didn't build me, so you can't kill me."

Reese transferred to LSU in May 2022 after spending the previous two years at Maryland. She was a unanimous All-American selection and won Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament for leading the Tigers to a 102-85 win over Iowa in the national title game.

After playing the Cayman Islands Classic, LSU's next game is at home against Virginia Tech on Nov. 30 in a Final Four rematch. The Tigers beat the Hokies 79-72 to reach the national championship game.

The LSU women's basketball team took the court without its most prominent player once again on Monday.

Christian Arnold of the New York Post reported Angel Reese was absent from the Tigers for Monday's contest against Texas Southern University. There wasn't a reason given, although this is the second consecutive game she will miss after she was not present for Friday's win over Southeastern Louisiana.

"Angel Reese is still part of the team," LSU head coach Kim Mulkey said (h/t Arnold). "She is not in uniform tonight."

Mulkey also commented on it after the game and didn't offer much clarity:

Kim Mulkey on Angel Reese: #LSU pic.twitter.com/TXpzSwbgmy

— Cory Diaz (@ByCoryDiaz) November 21, 2023

This comes after Reese posted "please don't believe everything you read" on social media on Sunday:

please don’t believe everything you read.

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 19, 2023

After the star forward was absent for the game against Southeastern Louisiana, Mulkey did not provide much clarity regarding the situation.

"You want me to explain why?" she said. "It's very obvious Angel was not in uniform. Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope to see her sooner than later.

"I'm not going to answer any more. That's it. That's all y'all need to know."

"You want me to explain why? It's very obvious Angel was not in uniform. Angel is a part of this basketball team and we hope to see her sooner rather than later."@LSUwbkb Kim Mulkey on Angel Reese not attending Friday's game at Southeastern. #LSU @WAFB pic.twitter.com/d2JP5J6mRU

— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) November 18, 2023

Reese was also benched after halftime of LSU's win over Kent State in a move Mulkey called a coach's decision while she told reporters "I could, but I won't" when asked why she didn't play.

It is a situation that could ultimately define the Tigers' season.

They are the reigning national champions in large part because she was the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament. She is a double-double threat every time she steps on the floor and a major reason the Tigers are in national-championship-or-bust mode this season.

LSU can still rely on other players such as Mikaylah Williams and Hailey Van Lith, but Reese is a major absence.

Next up for the Tigers is a game against Niagara on Friday.

LSU star Angel Reese addressed her absence in the Tigers' 73-50 win over Southeastern Louisiana on Friday.

"Please don't believe everything you read," she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

please don’t believe everything you read.

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) November 19, 2023

Her comments are unlikely to quiet the ongoing discourse regarding why she has seen her playing status change so dramatically.

Reese didn't step onto the court for the second half of a 109-79 victory over Kent State, with head coach Kim Mulkey only describing it as a "coach's decision." Mulkey remained vague when the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA tournament didn't play at all in LSU's next game.

"Angel was not in uniform," she told reporters. "Angel is a part of this basketball team, and we hope to see her sooner than later."

Reese has averaged 17.0 points and 10.3 rebounds in her four appearances to open the season. The junior forward is expected to play a critical role in the Tigers' defense of their national title.

LSU returns to action Monday night against Texas Southern. It's unclear whether Reese will return for the contest.