Angel Reese has opened up on the pressure and negativity surrounding her following her 2023 national championship victory with the LSU Tigers as her NCAA career possibly came to a close with a defeat to the Iowa Hawkeyes on April 1. The star women’s basketballer tasted defeat at the hands of Caitlin Clark in March Madness’ Elite Eight as they were defeated 94-87, with Clark having the last laugh in their collegiate rivalry before they both head to the WNBA to continue it in late 2024 or 2025.
Flau’Jae Johnson defends Angel Reese ❤️
(h/t @gifdsports )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 2, 2024
But for Reese, the loss caused an outburst of emotion, but it was not rage or frustration, it was sadness and vulnerability as she expanded on the hate she’s received from fans of the sport. So much hate that has ensured she doesn’t even enjoy life anymore. “I just try to stay strong,” Reese said post-game. “I’ve been attacked so many times.
“Death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened… I’m still human. All this has happened since I won the national championship & I haven’t been happy since then.” Reese’s comments come just a day after she vocally declared that she and Clark are not friends, another step in their rivalry after she had previously taunted the NCAA record points scorer in their 2023 national championship game.
Back then, the Tigers won 102-85 and Reese was spotted taunting Clark by gesturing to her ring finger when the game was essentially woman in a message that she was better.
Reese vs Clark stats in Hawkeyes vs Tigers
Reese has not yet declared an intention to enter the WNBA 2024 Draft along with Clark, but similarly, she has also not announced any plans to remain with the Tigers for her final year of NCAA eligibility. So, with her future uncertain, it’s possible that Baton Rouge has not seen her close her chapter with them just yet. But Clark will be heading to the WNBA, and she made sure she left Reese with a sour taste.
She perhaps remembered the LSU Tigers’ gesture in their win as Clark dropped 40 points in the victory along with 12 assists and seven rebounds in a dominant display. Reese, meanwhile, recorded 17 points, four assists and 20 rebounds in an admirable effort that simply wasn’t enough to stop the Caitlin Clark juggernaut roll onto the Final Four.
