Angel Reese has received a lot of unwanted attention following the uproar over her supposed “lack of sportsmanship” after Sunday’s NCAA women’s basketball championship game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and LSU Tigers. The 20-year-old went viral after taunting fellow athlete Caitlin Clark before pointing at her ring finger, which some people deemed disrespectful as the term “classless” began trending on Twitter soon after.
Reese has remained pretty unbothered by the backlash she’s received from those who think her actions were uncalled for. And in a new interview on “NBA Today,” the Maryland native continued to defend herself as she addressed the criticism by stating that she didn’t care about what others thought about her taunt. When asked on how she has been dealing with the negative reaction on social media, she told host Malika Andrew, “I’ve been dealing with it since high school, so it’s obviously not new for me.”
.@Reese10Angel spoke handling the criticism she’s received:
“I want to take on that role of being the Black woman that’s going to stand up for the girls that may not have a voice. … I don’t care what anybody has to say about me. I love who I am. … I’m authentically me.” pic.twitter.com/RJOyFR3xBz
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 3, 2023
“I want to take on that role of being the Black woman that’s going to stand up for the girls that may not have a voice,” she added. “I don’t care what anybody has to say about me. I love who I am. I’m authentically me.” Reese shared that she wants to take on the role of being a Black woman who stands up for not just herself but the girls who may not have a platform to defend themselves.
Angel Reese’s taunt sparked a lot of reactions from fans and social media. Some fans expressed their disappointment with Reese’s behavior, arguing that it was an unsportsmanlike act that should not be tolerated. Others defended Reese, stating that it was a harmless gesture meant to celebrate a good play.
The incident also sparked a conversation on social media about sportsmanship in college sports. Many fans argued that the NCAA should take a tougher stance on unsportsmanlike behavior, while others contended that it was part of the game and players should be allowed to express themselves freely.
The NCAA has strict rules and regulations regarding taunting by players. The rules state that players should not taunt or use unsportsmanlike conduct toward opponents in any way. Taunting can result in a technical foul or even ejection from the game.
The rules are in place to promote sportsmanship and ensure that players treat their opponents with respect. However, enforcing these rules can be challenging, especially in the heat of the moment.
“I’m happy I can be the role model and the person that everyone looks up to, and the one that can say those things that other people may want to say. So, I’m just happy right now,” Reese continued telling “NBA Today.”