1. The LSU Tigers women's basketball team has received a significant boost ahead of their matchup with No. 9 Virginia Tech on Thursday night, as star forward Angel Reese is set to return to action after missing the past four games for undisclosed reasons.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey confirmed the news during a news conference on Wednesday, saying, "Angel's back."

Reese, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA tournament, will provide a major boost to the seventh-ranked Tigers, who have gone 4-0 in her absence.

Defending champion LSU will be looking to extend their winning streak when they take on Virginia Tech, and Reese's return will undoubtedly give them a significant advantage.

Reese has not commented on her absence, but Mulkey has defended her decision to hold back specifics about the nature of her absence, saying it was an internal team matter.

The Tigers will also be without junior guard Kateri Poole, who has not traveled with the team to the Cayman Islands, and whose return is uncertain.

LSU (7-1) hosts Virginia Tech (5-1) in a rematch of a national semifinal from the 2023 tournament, when the Tigers rallied from a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to eliminate the top-seeded Hokies en route to the program's first national championship.

Reese had 24 points and 12 rebounds in the game, while Virginia Tech's Elizabeth Kitley led her team with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Kitley is averaging 24.3 points and 11.5 rebounds this season, which both rank in the top 10 in the nation.

In the original text, the news conference was mentioned first, followed by the coach's statement. In the rewritten text, the coach's statement is mentioned first, followed by the news conference.