Following their 94-87 Elite Eight loss to Iowa on Monday, LSU star Angel Reese opened up about her ordeals over the last year, stating that she has been “attacked so many times.”
Monday’s tense game saw Caitlin Clark and Iowa denying the LSU Tigers’ run for a repeat national championship. The two top-seeded teams also faced off in last season’s title match, with Reese helping the Tigers clinch their first national championship.
But an emotional Reese on Monday opened up about being targeted and cast in a bad light following their 2023 national championship win. “I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened,” the 21-year-old said, per CNN.
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“I’ve been so many things and I’ve stood strong every single time. I just try to stand strong for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me down and not be there for them … I’m still a human.”
And though Reese stated that she hasn’t been happy since she won the 2023 national championship, she said she “wouldn’t change anything.”
Reese became a topic of discussion during last year’s final game after she mimicked wrestler John Cena’s “you can’t see me” sign in Clark’s direction. She also pointed her finger to signify the championship ring she was eventually going to get.
What transpired during that game sparked a conversation about the supposed rivalry between Reese and Clark, and that was reignited before the two teams faced each other on Monday. But though Reese stated that she has since been portrayed as the “villain”, she made it clear she and Clark “don’t hate each other” and are just “super competitive” when playing, CNN reported.
Reese has yet to reveal if she will remain with LSU for next season or declare for this year’s WNBA draft. “I don’t really get to stand up for myself. I have great teammates. I have a great support system. I’ve got my hometown. I’ve got my family that stands up for me,” the 21-year-old said in reference to what she has been through over the last year.
“I don’t really get to speak out on things just because I try to ignore and I just try to stand strong … I would still sit here and say, ‘I’m unapologetically me.’ I’m going to always leave that mark and be who I am and stand on that,” she added.
“The little girls that look up to me, hopefully, I give them some type of inspiration … Keep being who you are.”
Reese’s teammate, Flau’jae Johnson, also rallied behind her during the post-game press conference. “Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her,” Johnson said. “Y’all don’t know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese.
“I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring and loving person … Just to see how the media ridicule her – we went through our problems, but this is my sister right here.”
