LSU legend Angel Reese is returning to her old stomping grounds at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday to be recognized for her third WNBA season. The recognition will take place during halftime of the No. 9 LSU women’s basketball team’s matchup against Texas Southern, which tips off at 7 p.m.

Before the 2026 season, Reese was traded from the Chicago Sky to the Atlanta Dream. She played the majority of the summer out of position at center because the Dream's center, Brionna Jones, was out with injuries and only played in 9 games.

Reese and the Sky went through potential trade destinations, and Reese picked Atlanta because of the city’s rich Black culture and the Dream’s roster makeup. In 2025, Jones, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray were all named All-Stars, Naz Hillmon won WNBA Sixth Player of the Year and Jordin Canada had established herself as a starting point guard in the league. Head coach Karl Smesko brought his 3-point-focused offense from Florida Gulf Coast to the Dream, and Reese was also open to the challenge of expanding her offensive range.

The plan worked for Reese, as she won WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, made the All-WNBA second team and the Dream advanced to the WNBA Finals. Culture-wise, some of the celebrity relationships that Reese cultivated while a student-athlete at LSU were on display at the Atlanta games en masse to support her, from rapper Latto and singer Mariah The Scientist to journalist Speedy Morman and legendary R&B artist Usher.

Now, Reese will be the celebrity guest in attendance for the Tigers. It marks the first time Reese has returned to the arena to watch LSU basketball as a spectator since she graduated. In 2025, the WNBA scheduled a Sky preseason game at the PMAC, where Reese was welcomed back with a standing ovation.

This season, LSU’s group is led by senior wing Mikaylah Williams. In a record-breaking, season-opening 129-35 win over Southeastern on Monday night, Williams finished with 19 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Sophomore guard ZaKiyah Johnson led all scorers with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 5 steals. The team also returns forward Grace Knox and Milaysia Fulwiley. Iowa State transfer point guard Jada Williams also joins the starting lineup.

Reese transferred from Maryland to LSU in May 2022. She helped lead the Tigers to the program's lone national championship in her first season, and earned the nickname "Bayou Barbie" along the way.