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LSU star Angel Reese recently made headlines for defending the gesture she made towards Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark during the Tigers’ first NCAA women’s basketball national championship victory on Sunday. Reese explained that she “doesn’t take disrespect lightly.” The gesture, which involved Reese moving her open hand in front of her face and pointing to her ring finger, was interpreted by some as a reference to her newly-acquired championship ring.
It’s worth noting that Clark had made a similar gesture to another player earlier in the tournament. This sparked much debate, especially on social media, with some criticizing Reese and others defending her actions. Sports journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz called Reese’s actions “classless,” while former ESPN host Keith Olbermann went as far as to call Reese an “idiot” for the gesture.
However, Reese addressed the difference in reaction she received compared to Clark in the press conference after the victory, highlighting the unfair treatment she faced throughout the season. She said, “All year, I was critiqued for who I was. I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit the box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, and y’all don’t say nothing.” Reese expressed that her gesture was for girls who look like her and want to speak up for what they believe in.
Reese had an outstanding performance in the championship victory, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. She was awarded the women’s March Madness’ Most Outstanding Player. After the game, Reese referenced Clark’s similar gesture towards a Louisville opponent in the Elite Eight.
Despite the controversy, both Reese and Clark expressed their respect for each other in the post-game press conference. Clark mentioned that LSU head coach Kim Mulkey only said kind things to her during the handshake line. Mulkey herself said she had “no clue” about what transpired between the players.
In the midst of the backlash, some individuals have come to Reese’s defense on social media. ESPN’s Holly Rowe and former NBA star Etan Thomas have both celebrated the confidence demonstrated by Reese and Clark. Thomas emphasized that there shouldn’t be double standards when it comes to class and sportsmanship.
Reese revealed that the negative reactions on social media throughout the season have fueled her motivation, and she’s proud of her performance. She finished the season with impressive averages of 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds after transferring from Maryland to LSU. So, despite what anyone says on Twitter, Reese remains proud of her achievements.