Angel Reese spills the beans and reveals unexpected feelings about Hailey Van Lith

Angel Reese’s new podcast, “Unapologetically Angel”, has allowed the Chicago Sky’s star rookie a chance to take off the filter and get real with her fans. Although a wrist fracture has ended her debut season in the WNBA a bit earlier than anticipated, Reese’s charisma and the force of her personality are still shining through in her newest venture.

“Unapologetically Angel” might be only one episode old, but already it has provided a unique glimpse into Reese’s character and outlook. It also gave viewers Reese’s perspective on her LSU Tigers’ failed national championship defense last season, and her complicated relationship with prized transfer guard Hailey Van Lith.

Reese tries to predict Van Lith’s future

Reese revealed on her podcast that Van Lith “wasn’t a good fit” on Kim Mulkey’s LSU team, to which the guard transferred last year after three seasons at Louisville. Van Lith’s fate at LSU was more or less sealed after the Tigers’ loss to Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in last season’s Elite Eight; Van Lith, clearly feeling under the weather, was the primary defender on Clark, and the star guard torched her as part of a 41-point, 12-assist explosion.

“I was probably one of the closer people with (Van Lith) on the team,” Reese said. “I think she was really distant from everybody else, so I kinda felt bad. So I was like, “let me get close to her and like see who she is” because she was the only white girl on the team. I wanted her to feel as comfortable as she could.”

Angel Reese opens up about her relationship with Hailey Van Lith

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— Unapologetically Angel (@angelreeseshow) September 6, 2024

However, Reese still believes in Van Lith’s potential. Van Lith will transfer to TCU for her final season of NCAA eligibility, and she won bronze as part of the United States national women’s 3×3 team at the Summer Olympics in Paris. Van Lith’s ceiling is that of a WNBA-quality guard — and she could match up against, or even with, Reese again during the 2025 season if she sticks on a roster.

“She’s an amazing guard that can do so many great things on the court,” Reese said. “I’ve seen her kill for a long time, and I know she’ll continue to kill. I’ve seen her get her confidence back.”

💰 Angel Reese breaks down what she spends her money on 💸 #WNBA pic.twitter.com/SLQ1zVJu92

— MARCA in English 🇺🇸 (@MARCAinENGLISH) September 11, 2024