CNN
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LSU star Angel Reese defended the gesture she geared toward Iowa Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark close to the tip of the Tigers’ first NCAA women’s basketball national championship victory on Sunday, saying “I don’t take disrespect flippantly.”
Reese might be seen approaching Clark earlier than shifting her open hand in entrance of her face – popularized by WWE star John Cena to imply “you possibly can’t see me” – earlier than pointing to her ring finger in a gesture some interpreted as a reference to the place her newly-acquired championship ring would possibly sit.
Clark made the same gesture to a different participant earlier within the match.
The gesture has sparked a lot debate, particularly on social media. Some have criticized Reese, whereas others have defended her actions, highlighting how there was no public outrage in response to Clark’s gesture earlier within the match.
Sports activities journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz known as Reese’s actions “classless,” whereas former ESPN host Keith Olbermann known as Reese an “fool” for the gesture.
Within the press convention after the victory, Reese referenced the distinction in response she acquired because of her gesture as in comparison with the one Clark acquired.
“All yr, I used to be critiqued for who I used to be. I don’t match the narrative,” Reese mentioned. “I don’t match the field that y’all need me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all advised me that every one yr. However when different individuals do it, and y’all don’t say nothing.
“So that is for the ladies that appear like me. For those who wish to communicate up for what they consider in. It’s unapologetically you. And that’s what I did it for tonight. It was larger than me tonight. And Twitter goes to enter a rage each time.
“And I’m completely satisfied. I really feel like I’ve helped develop ladies’s basketball this yr. (…) I’m wanting ahead to celebrating after which subsequent season.”
Reese had 15 factors and 10 rebounds within the 102-85 victory and gained the ladies’s March Insanity’ Most Excellent Participant award.
Within the post-game broadcast, Reese referenced the same gesture Clark made to a Louisville opponent within the Elite Eight.
In the identical sport, Clark mentioned to an opponent: “You’re down by 15 factors. Shut up,” in line with the Bleacher Report.
“Caitlin Clark is a hell of a participant however I don’t take disrespect flippantly,” Reese mentioned. “She disrespected [LSU’s] Alexis [Morris] (…) and I wished to select her pocket. However I had a second on the finish of her sport. I used to be in my bag, I used to be in my second.”
After the Championship sport, Clark herself mentioned she didn’t discover something on the time.
“I used to be simply attempting to get to the handshake line and shake palms and be grateful that my workforce was in that place,” Clark mentioned within the post-game press convention. “All of the credit score on the planet to LSU. They had been super. They deserve it. That they had an incredible season.
“(LSU head coach) Kim Mulkey coached them so, so effectively. She’s probably the greatest basketball coaches of all time, and it reveals. She solely mentioned actually variety issues to me within the handshake line, so I’m very grateful of that too.
“However actually I don’t know. I used to be simply attempting to spend the previous few moments on the courtroom with particularly the 5 folks that I’ve began 93 video games with and relishing each second of that.”
LSU head coach Mulkey mentioned she had “no clue” about what transpired.
In footage: LSU wins nationwide title in ladies’s basketball
Amongst these defending Reese on social media had been ESPN’s Holly Rowe and former NBA star Etan Thomas.
“Individuals hating on Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark. Cease. Unapologetically assured younger ladies needs to be celebrated NOT hated. Get used to it,” Rowe wrote on Twitter.
Former Washington Wizards, Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and Atlanta Hawks participant Thomas wrote: “Maintain on now!!!! It was cute when Caitlin Clark did it. Y’all didn’t have any points with it in any respect. So don’t be all outraged and speaking about class and sportsmanship when Angel Reese does the identical factor. We’re not doing double requirements right here.”
Reese mentioned the detrimental response on social media all through the season has helped gasoline her wonderful season, having completed averaging 23.0 factors and 15.4 rebounds in her first season with LSU after transferring from Maryland.
“Twitter can say what they wish to say,” she mentioned. “I like studying these feedback. I’ve all of the screenshots of what all people has mentioned about me all season. What are you going to say now?”
