Angel Reese defends her gesture towards Caitlin Clark after LSU national title win; criticizes double standard and embraces her identity

Our established financial services company is proud to provide small businesses and other gig workers with a fast and easy merchant cash advance solution. We understand the challenges faced by contractors and other 1099 workers with credit issues, which is why we offer a simple MCA option that requires no credit check.

LSU star Angel Reese recently made headlines for her actions during the NCAA women’s basketball national championship victory. In response to Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark’s earlier gesture, Reese defended herself, stating, “I don’t take disrespect lightly.” She referenced the difference in reaction she received compared to the lack of public outrage towards Clark’s gesture.

Reese’s actions have sparked much debate, particularly on social media. While some have criticized her, others have come to her defense, highlighting the double standards at play. Sports journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz called Reese’s actions “classless,” while former ESPN host Keith Olbermann labeled her an “idiot.”

During the press conference following the victory, Reese expressed her pride in standing up for herself and other girls who face similar critiques. She emphasized the importance of being unapologetically oneself and contributing to the growth of women’s basketball. Reese believes she has helped break barriers and looks forward to celebrating and the upcoming season.

In the championship game, Reese had an impressive performance, scoring 15 points and securing 10 rebounds, earning her the women’s March Madness Most Outstanding Player award. She referenced Clark’s own gesture in an earlier game, where Clark told an opponent, “You’re down by 15 points. Shut up.” Reese defended her actions, stating that Clark had disrespected one of her teammates, Alexis Morris.

Clark herself claimed not to have noticed Reese’s gesture at the time, preferring to focus on shaking hands and appreciating her team’s achievements. LSU head coach Kim Mulkey also stated she had no knowledge of the incident.

Despite the backlash, Reese found support from prominent individuals like ESPN’s Holly Rowe and former NBA star Etan Thomas. Rowe celebrated unapologetically confident young women and encouraged others to do the same. Thomas challenged the double standards surrounding the incident, highlighting Clark’s similar actions without any outrage.

Throughout the season, Reese has faced negative reactions on social media, but she credits these comments with fueling her excellent performance. With an average of 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds in her first season with LSU, Reese has proved her critics wrong. She remains unfazed by the opinions of others, confident in her abilities on the court.