LSU Basketball Beef Boils Over: Angel Reese, Flau'jae Johnson's Mothers Trade Barbs

In a social media skirmish, the mothers of former LSU stars Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson took aim at each other's grammar and academic performance, escalating a simmering feud that had marred the team's season.

Early in the 2023-24 women's college basketball season, the mothers of then-LSU stars Angel Reese and Flau'jae Johnson became embroiled in a heated social media exchange, with grades and grammar taking center stage. The beef erupted amidst speculation that Reese had been suspended, although the university remained tight-lipped on the matter.

Reese's mother, Angel Webb Reese, criticized Johnson's teammate for improper grammar, prompting an equally sharp response from Johnson's mother, Kia Brooks, who defended her daughter and took aim at Reese's mother's academic record.

The public spat escalated with Brooks accusing Reese's mother of being "petty, fake, and hateful" and implying that she raised her daughter that way. She also hinted at Reese's potential ineligibility by mentioning her "low GPA."

Despite the friction between their mothers, Reese and Johnson appeared to maintain a positive relationship on the court. After LSU's season ended, Johnson consoled Reese during a post-game interview, wiping away her teammate's tears.

However, tensions resurfaced after LSU's victory over Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2023 national championship. Reese pointedly taunted Clark, who had previously criticized her celebratory gesture. Iowa exacted revenge in the 2024 Elite 8, defeating LSU and ending their title defense.

Reese's departure for the WNBA, where she was drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Sky, has not dampened the feud. In response to Brooks' earlier comments, Reese posted on social media that she had graduated from LSU in four years, seemingly mocking Brooks' lack of a college degree.

The social media skirmish between Reese and Johnson's mothers highlights the potential pitfalls of parental involvement in competitive sports. While parental support is crucial for athlete development, it can sometimes lead to unnecessary conflict and distract from the game itself.

In the case of Reese and Johnson, the public feud between their mothers cast a negative light on LSU's program and overshadowed the team's success on the court. It also served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining professionalism and respecting others, even in the heat of competition.