Angel Reese opened up about the pressures of fame after winning a national championship with LSU in 2023.
The 21-year-old became a household name in the United States after leading her team to the NCAA championship last year. Under the brash leadership of coach Kim Mulkey, the team made headlines on and off the field. Reese has been a frequent target of criticism, some of which has sexist and racist overtones.
“I’ve been attacked a lot, death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been through a lot of stuff, but I’ve stood up every time,” Reese said after her team’s loss. Head to Iowa State on Monday night to play in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. “I just tried to stand up strong for my teammates because I didn’t want them to see me down and not be there for them. This all happened after I won the national championship. It sucked, but I still wouldn’t Change.
“Those little girls who respect me, I hope I can give them some inspiration – stay awake every day, stay motivated, stay yourself, stand up on your ten toes, don’t shrink back, be confident.”
“I’m just trying to stay strong… I’ve been attacked a lot. Death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened… I’m still human. All this since I won the championship. The national championship happened, and I haven’t been happy ever since.”
– Angel Reesepic.twitter.com/fIvQWtefnx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 2, 2024
Reese sprained his ankle on Monday night but still finished with 17 points, 20 rebounds and four assists. She said she wouldn’t use the injury as an excuse for the team’s loss to an Iowa State team inspired by Caitlin Clark.
“I’m strong, so of course I’m trying to get over it, and it’s been going on for a while,” Reese said. “But I’m done with it and I’m not going to make excuses for the rest of my game.”
The rivalry between Reese and Clark has always been one of the talking points in college basketball. The two spoke briefly on the field after the game on Monday.
“She just told me to continue to be a good player,” Reese said. “I told her to continue to be a great player. And keep improving her game. And then go win it.”
Reese is eligible for this year’s WNBA draft but said she has not made a decision about her future and could still return to LSU next season. Meanwhile, her teammates defended Reese’s leadership.
“I’ve never seen anyone have bad hopes for someone like she did, but it doesn’t affect her,” Haley Van Liss said. “She comes to training every day. She lives her life every day. She lives the life she wants and she won’t let anyone change that. That’s the key to life.”
Mulkey came under scrutiny during the race when she attacked a Washington Post reporter for a balanced account of her, which she described as a “hit piece” before it was published. However, she also won praise for defending her players in an independent column that was seen by many as sexist. Mulkey said her team helped make women’s basketball better despite Monday’s loss.
“We have changed, friends, we have changed. We have changed in many ways,” she said. “These young men are going to remember being a part of something so great tonight, and many of them were a part of winning a championship last year. I can’t describe to you how good women’s basketball is right now. That’s why I hope this To get to the Final Four. Wow. That’s certainly good for the Elite Eight.”
