It’s not easy being Angel Reese. Despite being one of the most recognized female collegiate basketball players of the decade, Reese has faced taunting and online hostility as her popularity has grown over the last year. As a Black woman, Reese has faced racist screeds and even death threats on social media, making it impossible for the 21-year-old to focus on her prospective WNBA career.
Even though Reese did not participate in the NCAA championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the South Carolina Gamecocks on Sunday, harsh comments against her persisted. As Reese discussed how the game was officiated, the former LSU Tigers star had to pause to admit that she was once again at the center of a controversy.
What exactly did Angel Reese say?
In terms of controversial X postings, Reese did not appear to be inviting controversy when she quoted WNBA star Natasha Cloud’s tweet challenging refereeing standards for the championship game in Cleveland. Reese just stated that she had “hit delete about six times” on her own post regarding Iowa’s big free-throw lead in the first half.
On a post that received 687 reactions and over 1,000 retweets, many users branded Reese a “loser,” directing obscenities at her that were unrelated to her initial post, while Cloud claimed her tweet exchange resulted in “racism and hate” appearing on her account. The Phoenix Mercury guard commended Reese’s character and fortitude for continuing to speak out despite the abuse, adding she “wears a crown that most of y’all couldn’t even lift.”
Angel welcomes Natasha into her “world”
In a witty and sincere response to Cloud’s tweet, Reese delivered an apology she should never have had to issue, apologizing for bringing negativity to Cloud’s X feed — and sarcastically “welcomed” Cloud to her world, where she routinely deals with abuse and venom.
Reese has been a contentious figure since leading LSU to a national title in 2023, with many condemning her off-court behavior (despite the fact that she has done nothing illegal) and attitude about it. Few can doubt her skill and aptitude, and she hopes that the WNBA will create a more welcoming environment as she progresses in her basketball career.
Leave a Reply