Some fans accused LSU’s Angel Reese of ‘poor sportsmanship’ and being ‘classless’ after her gesture towards Caitlin Clark following the Tigers NCAA win.
The LSU Tigers won their first women’s basketball national championship on Sunday, beating the Iowa Hawkeyes 102-85 in a March Madness thriller.
It was an excellent game and a brilliant advert for women’s college basketball. However, the end of the game was marred by LSU star Angel Reese taunting Iowa’s Caitlin Clark.
Reese gave Caitlin Clark the same “You Can’t Can’t See Me” move – popularised by wrestler John Cena – Clark flashed during Iowa’s semifinals win over South Carolina.
Reese could also be seen pointing to her ring finger to tell her rival that she now has a ring and the Hawkeyes star has none.
LSU’s Angel Reese ‘classless’ and had ‘poor sportsmanship’ say some fans
Many fans were up in arms about the gestures, calling LSU and Angel Reese ‘classless’ while showing ‘poor sportsmanship.’
Many argued that it was inappropriate and unnecessary and left a sour taste in the mouth after what was an exceptional game.
Former ESPN host Keith Olbermann called Reese an “idiot” for the gesture, while others on social media criticised Reese.
One person wrote: ‘She has to get into the face of Iowa’s C Clark afterwards waving her John Cena ” you can’t see me ” hand along with continuously pointing to her ring finger . Doing that in the face of the obvious best player in the tournament , is not only classless but, extremely poor sportsmanship !!!!!!!’
‘Angel Reese has to have the worst sportsmanship I’ve ever seen. It’s not “passionate” it’s disrespectful’, another added.
However, others defended Reese following the gesture
However, while some criticised Reese, other leapt her defence. Many argued that when Caitlin Clark did the same John Cena-inspired act against Louisville in the Elite 8, many heaped praise on her.
Fans asked where the same energy was for Angel who simply replicated the same gesture.
‘If it wasn’t “classless” when Caitlin Clark did it, don’t call it classless when Angel Reese does it. Let the women compete, it’s sports!!, Emmanuel Acho said.
‘To be fair…Caitlin Clark did the exact same thing a week ago. So I don’t have a problem with what Reese did,’ another added.
“[Clark is a] hell of a player but I don’t take disrespect lightly,” Reese said after the game. “She disrespected [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 moment”.
Reese also referenced the double standard when speaking to reporters after the game. “All year I was critiqued about who I was. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto, y’all told me that all year,” she said. “When other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. This was for the people that look like me.”
To be fair to Reese, if Clark has previously dished it out she has to be able to take it.
The LSU forward finished the game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. She set a record with 34 double-doubles on the season, the most ever in a single season by an individual in women’s NCAA Division I history.
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