(CNN) LSU star Angel Reese supported the gesture aimed at the Iowa Hawkeyes. Caitlin Clark Near the end Tigers’ first NCAA women’s basketball national championship win Sunday, “I don’t take disrespect lightly.”
Maybe Reese i saw Approaching Clarke before moving an open hand in front of her face — popularized by WWE star John Cena as “You Can’t See Me” — before pointing her ring finger in a gesture some interpreted as marking the spot. Let the newly acquired championship ring sit.
Clark did the same Gesture to another player earlier in the match.
The gesture has sparked a lot of debate, especially on social media. Some criticized Rees, while others supported his actions, highlighting the lack of public outrage in response to Clark’s gesture earlier.
Sports journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz called Reese’s actions “classless,” while former ESPN anchor 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 Clark’s.
“Throughout the year, I was criticized for who I was. I didn’t fit the story,” Reese said. “I don’t fit the box you want me to be. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto. You tell me that every year. But when other people do it, you all say nothing.
“So this is for girls who look like me. For those who want to talk about what they believe. It’s unforgivably you. That’s what I did tonight. It’s bigger than me tonight. And every time Twitter goes, go on a rampage.
“And I’m happy. I feel like I’ve helped grow women’s basketball this year. (…) I’m looking forward to celebrating next season.”
Reese had 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 102-85 victory and won the Women’s March Madness Player of the Year award.
In the post-game broadcast, Reese made the same gesture Clark did to a Louisville opponent in the Elite Eight.
In the same game, Clark told an opponent: “You’re down 15 points. Shut up,” according to Bleacher Report.
“Caitlin Clark is a hell of a player but I don’t take disrespect lightly,” Rees said. “She’s not respectful [LSU’s] Alexis [Morris] (…) and I wanted to pick her pocket. But I had a moment at the end of her game. I was in my bag, I was in my moment.”
After the championship match, Clark said he didn’t notice anything at the time.
“I go to the handshake line and shake hands and try to be thankful that my team was in that position,” Clarke said in the postgame press conference. “All the credit in the world to LSU. They’re huge. They deserve it. They had a huge season.
“(LSU head coach) Kim Mulkey coached them really well. He’s one of the best basketball coaches of all time, and it shows. He only said the kindest things to me on the handshake line, so I’m very grateful. And that.
“But honestly I don’t know anything. I started playing 93 games and tried to spend the last few minutes on the court with five guys who enjoyed every second.”
LSU head coach Mulkey said he had no clue what happened.
Among those who defended Reese on social media were ESPN’s Holly Rowe and former NBA star Eden Thomas.
“People are hating on Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark. Stop it. Hopeless young women shouldn’t be hated and celebrated. Get used to it,” Rowe said. wrote on Twitter.
Thomas is a former Washington Wizards, Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks player wrote: “Now wait!!!! When Caitlin Clarke did it, it was awesome. You have no problem with it. So don’t rage about class and sportsmanship when Angel Reese does it. Same thing. We’re not doing a double standard here.”
Reese, who averaged 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds in his first season with LSU after transferring from Maryland, said the negative reaction on social media throughout the season helped fuel his best season.
“Twitter can say whatever they want to say,” he said. “I love reading those comments. I have all the screenshots of what everyone said about me all season. Now what are you going to say?”
