Women’s basketball may be getting much-deserved attention lately, but for players such as LSU star Angel Reese, it comes at a price.
Following Monday night’s 94-87 loss to Iowa, Reese broke down in tears as she admitted that she’d been subjected to death threats since she and her team won the national championship last year.
“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, I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood strong every single time,” she shared.
Teammate Flau’jae Johnson also defended Reese during the post-game interview, slamming those criticizing her without even knowing the player. Much of the backlash stems from Reese being perceived as arrogant for her on the court actions. This includes her controversial hand gesture seen during last year’s NCAA tournament, where she waved her hand in front of her face, a move popularized by pro wrestler John Cena. She also walked into Monday night’s game and placed a crown on the LSU bench in front of Iowa frontwoman Caitlin Clark during warm-ups. Still, the surge of violent remarks against Reese is unwarranted and seemingly racially motivated, as white players such as Clark do not appear to receive such backlash.
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LSU’s loss this week means the team will not advance to the Final Four. Iowa will now face off with UConn.
