Last year, UConn Huskies and LSU Tigers’ head coaches Geno Auriemma and Kim Mulkey, respectively, were invited to share the stage at the Aspen Ideas Festival. The two college basketball stalwarts shared a piece of their mind, drawing from their experiences in the arena for over several decades. One of the key topics that they touched upon was the impact of social media over players and their realities.
In recent years, social media has played a phenomenal role in increasing the popularity and visibility of women’s college basketball. Although players like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese are definitely the top of their class, one more reason to their claim to fame could definitely be attributed to their virality online.
But both Auriemma and Mulkey recognize and understand the pitfalls that come with an online presence. While social media gives college athletes much needed exposure, it won’t always be the kind space that can attribute to their growth and wellness. Touching upon that, Auriemma said:
“I would say is, when you put yourself out there on social media—whether you do it or someone else does it—you have to be prepared for all the great things that people say about you and understand not all of that is true.” (8:47)
The host also asked Kim Mulkey about her experience of dealing with superstars like Angel Reese. Since her college days, Reese had established herself as a social media icon, or rather a brand within her likeness. But, Reese has been on a constant receiving end of vitriol online, ever since her LSU days. And now that she’s a pro, the hate and trolling is even more.
Mulkey has always had faither in her players. She believes the rigor and training in basketball in itself have made these players quite mentally strong. But after all, they are humans too. Such trolling may often take a toll on them, even to an extent affecting their performance on the floor. She said:
“They’re young, they’re 18, 19, 20-year-olds that live on it. They live on it. And I tell them, as he [Geno Auriemma] just said, if you’re going to live on it, you better be prepared for what you’re going to read on it. And we try as institutions to, you know, provide people that can help them navigate that. But at the end of the day, we’re not with them 24/7.”
Kim Mulkey’s pupil Angel Reese opened up about dealing with trolling and cyberbullying
Amongst many other WNBA players in the recent times, nobody has been subject to as much trolling as Angel Reese. A storyline that most fans subscribe to is her rivalry with Caitlin Clark since their college hoops days. Though that professional rivalry has carried forward to the league, fans who have picked sides never miss an opportunity to dunk on the Chicago Sky star.
However, Reese has learned to deal with it. She had noticed the spike in such trolling ever since winning the 2023 national championship with LSU. In an honest interview ahead of the recent All-Star game, she admitted to have developed a ‘thick skin’ to be unaffected by such chatter.
“It was bigger than basketball when they were finding my address, my car. I had to change my whole lifestyle. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore just because I feel like I’ve built a thicker skin but not everybody has a thick skin,” Reese said.
Angel on cyberbullying:
“After I won the natty, my whole life changed. And that was the first time I had seen negativity like that on social media. I had to change my whole lifestyle. Doesn’t bother me as much anymore just because I felt like I’ve built a thicker skin” pic.twitter.com/TNz5MI1NGj
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) July 18, 2025
There have been times when Reese has seen a slump in her performance, as compared to Caitlin Clark. That’s when she gets subjected to extreme trolling, some reaching the point of to be considered harassment.
Angel Reese revealed that the other WNBA players do check up on her when she is subjected to such unnecessary hate and bullying online.
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