Angel Reese advises friend Aniya Gourdine for tournament

Angel Reese, a star player for the Chicago Sky, has reached out to her childhood friend, Aniya Gourdine, who is playing in the women's NCAA Tournament. Although Reese is not participating this year, she wanted to support Gourdine as the Southern Jaguars faced UCLA in their first-round game. Reese, known for leading the LSU women's basketball team to a national championship in 2023, shared words of encouragement with Gourdine. In a video message, she expressed her excitement for Gourdine's first tournament experience and urged her to represent historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Baltimore well. Southern lost to UCLA 84-46, with Gourdine scoring 10 points and grabbing two rebounds. Reese reminisced about their friendship and basketball journey, having played together at St. Frances Academy in high school. She expressed pride in Gourdine's growth both on and off the court. In a notable connection, last year, Reese's LSU team faced UCLA in the Sweet 16, winning that game in a tough matchup.