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LSU star Angel Reese defended the gesture she made toward the Iowa Hawkeyes’ Kaitlin Clark at the end of the Tigers’ first NCAA women’s basketball national championship win on Sunday, saying, “I don’t take disrespect lightly.”
Reese may saw Clarke approaches before moving her open hand in front of her face – popularized by WWE star John Cena meaning “You can’t see me” – before pointing to her ring finger in a gesture that some interpreted as a reference to the location of her newly-acquired championship ring.
clark made just like that Signal To another player at the beginning of the tournament.
This gesture has sparked much debate, especially on social media. Some have criticized Reese, while others have defended her actions, highlighting that there was no public outcry in response to Clark’s gesture earlier in the tournament.
Sports journalist José de Jesus Ortiz called Reese’s actions “classless”, while former ESPN host Keith Olbermann called Reese an “idiot” for the gesture.
In the press conference after the win, Reese noted the difference in the reaction he received as a result of his gesture compared to the reaction Clark received.
“All year long I’ve been criticized for who I am. I don’t fit into the story,” Reese said. “I don’t fit into the box you all want to put me in. I’m too hooded. I’m too Jewish. You all told me that all year. But when other people do, and you all don’t say anything.
“So this is for girls who look like me. For those who want to speak up for what they believe in. That’s undoubtedly you. And that’s what I did for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter gets mad every time.
“And I’m happy. I feel like I’ve helped women’s basketball grow this year. (…) I’m looking forward to celebrating and then next season.”
Reese had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the 102–85 win and won the Women’s March Madness Most Outstanding Player award.
In the post-game broadcast, Reese referenced a similar gesture made by Clark to the Louisville opponent in the Elite Eight.
According to Bleacher Report, in the same game, Clark told an opponent: “You’re down by 15 points. Shut up.”
“Caitlin Clark is a great player but I don’t take disrespect lightly,” Reese said. “He disrespected (LSU’s) Alexis (Morris) (…) and I wanted to pickpocket him. But I had a moment at the end of his game. I was in my bag, I was in my moment.”
After the championship game, Clark himself said he didn’t notice anything at the time.
“I was just trying to come over to the handshake line and shake hands and be grateful that my team was in that position,” Clark said in the postgame press conference. “All the credit in the world to LSU. They were tremendous. They deserve it. They had a tremendous season.
“(LSU head coach) Kim Mulkey coached him so well. He’s one of the best basketball coaches ever, and it shows. He only said kind things to me in the handshake line, so I’m very grateful for that too.
“But honestly, I have no idea. I’m just trying to enjoy my last few moments on the court especially with the five guys I’ve started 93 games with and enjoy every second of it.”
LSU head coach Mulkey said he had “no clue” about what happened.
In pictures: LSU wins national title in women’s basketball
Among those who defended Reese on social media were ESPN’s Holly Rowe and former NBA star Ayton Thomas.
“People hate on Angel Reese or Kaitlynn Clark. Stop. Confident young women should be celebrated, not hated. Get used to it,” Rowe wrote on Twitter.
Former Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks player Thomas wrote: “WAIT NOW!!!! It was great when Kaitlynn Clark did that. Y’all had no problem with it. So don’t get all mad when Angel Reese does the same thing and talk about class and sportsmanship. We’re not having double standards here.”
Reese said the negative reaction on social media throughout the season helped fuel his excellent season, averaging 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds in his first season with LSU after transferring from Maryland.
“Twitter can say whatever they want to say,” he said. “I love reading those comments. I have screenshots of everything they’ve said about me all season. What are you going to say now?”
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