Angel Reese

At the women's NCAA final, Angel Reese of LSU waved her hand in front of her face while glaring at Iowa's Caitlin Clark. Here's what the gesture means and ...

Her LSU teammate Alexis Morris had [already criticized the Hawkeyes' defense](https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/36031086/lsu-punish-iowa-disrespectful-defense), saying she found the way they guarded South Carolina "disrespectful" and vowing to "take it personally" going into the final. So this is for the girls that look like me." "I don't fit in the box that you all want me to be in. [told Jimmy Fallon](https://youtu.be/__gMSsaGNA0?t=70) last year that when he was working on his 2005 album, his younger brother Sean was "always our litmus test" and never satisfied with any of the songs. [first Black heavyweight boxing champion](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jack-Johnson) early in the 20th century, was called cowardly for the same defensive style of boxing that earned white fighters praise for using their guile. (He correctly predicted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that those quips would flood the YouTube video's comment section.) "So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. "So I wanted to do this, and the term 'you can't see me' is like, 'Well, you're not even on my level.'" "I wanted to pick her pocket," Reese added. "And this was another anecdote to go along with that qualitative evidence." The moment quickly went viral, with commentators and observers criticizing Reese for what they perceived as unsportsmanlike taunting of Clark. She finished with 191 points, the most ever scored by any man or woman in a single NCAA tournament.

The national championship game between LSU and Iowa in the 2023 women's NCAA tournament was everything college basketball could have ever wanted.

With both Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark returning to school we might get to do this again next year, circling the date of when LSU and Iowa meet to see the next round in this rivalry. The Tigers were one of the best teams in the country, Caitlin Clark is the biggest star in the game, and more visibility than ever thanks to the mystique and allure provided by the Angel Reese vs. If you’re trying to bend over backwards to defend Clark while slamming Reese you are in serious need of introspection. So, when Reese dared to taunt Clark it rallied a very particular kind of person (read: assholes) to pick up sword and shield to decry Reese. Babe Ruth pointing to center field and calling a home run is venerated, but God-forbid a person of color flips a bat or the entire decorum of baseball is in tatters. These were two superstars, showing the swagger superstars show, and in the end Reese won this round, while Clark licked her wounds. As fans we marvel not only at their talents, but the drama and stories that unfold as a result. The Iowa phenom was infinitely more mature than the vapid-minded screaming about Reese on Twitter. The innate need to find a villain in every rivalry turned its sights on LSU vs. A venue where people can compete and showcase athletic excellence. People loved Clark’s swagger when she taunted Louisville while dropping 41 points, but when Reese did the exact same thing, suddenly the conversation devolved into how “disrespectful” Reese was, how “classless” she acted, how Reese didn’t “win with grace.” All the hits, now sung loudly by the same chorus who posted Clark’s preening over Louisville non-stop. It was another astonishingly good game by Clark overall, but Iowa just didn’t have the depth of talent behind Clark that LSU had with Alexis Morris, LaDazhia Williams and Flau’jae Johnson supporting Reese.

FS1 personality Shannon Sharpe has labeled the coverage of Angel Reese's taunting as 'not about anything other than race.' Sharpe took aim at the difference ...

That's the story.' That's the inconsistency. 'Trash talk is a part of the game. The other is condemned. The Maryland transfer [Iowa](/news/iowa/index.html) star Clark in the [final throes of the national title game, which the Tigers won comfortably. Angela Reese does the same gestured it's considered "classless." And they were talking about nothing but her greatness. This is not about anything other than race. when Caitlin Clark did the John Cena it was considered "swag". it's so obvious what this is. Conversely to Clark, Reese repeatedly used the gesture in the sequence, moving around the court in an attempt to goad Clark as opposed to the once-off motion by the Naismith Player of the Year in the previous game.

Louisiana State University's Angel Reese was described as “classless” by sports fans who took issue with her taunting Iowa star player Caitlin Clark when their ...

Jackson](https://twitter.com/SamuelLJackson/status/1642765426063966210), and much of Black Twitter to rally in Reese’s defense against raging criticisms she was receiving. Just days prior, Clark’s “clap backs” were compiled for an Smith also weighed in with his assessment of the situation after giving praise to Clark but also noting that she had “instigated” the type of taunting displayed on Sunday. Reese told reporters at the press conference that the game was “bigger” than her and made sure to highlight the differences in reception. I’m too ghetto. I’m too hood.

Angel Reese did the “you can't see me” hand wave to Caitlin Clark, sparking outrage online. Clark previously did the same move. The anger, with people ...

[classless](https://twitter.com/OrtizKicks/status/1642648288280162305)” and an “ [idiot](https://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1642861230221041664),” among [other things](https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1642648843010428931). [for celebrating their 2013 World Cup victory too much?](https://www.today.com/news/us-team-criticized-celebrating-during-women-s-world-cup-win-t156130) Or [all the times](https://twitter.com/AgentTinsley/status/1038619677688135686?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1038620452615118848%7Ctwgr%5E1aaa94c55b95aac105962c7bffac4fbccbc06f11%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F09%2Fyes-serena-williams-was-treated-unfairly-in-us-open-loss) Serena Williams was held to a different, higher standard by umpires, opposing players, and the public for being angry about certain calls? Sports commentator Emmanuel Acho put together [a handy collection](https://twitter.com/EmmanuelAcho/status/1642746824896434177) of just some of the times men playing sports taunt one another. Dog whistles like “classless” and “disrespectful” have long been used to put down and contain Black women’s experiences and joy. In his eyes, the problem is that Reese and Clark “can be classless winners who are willing to overshadow their own team’s victory.” Reese added a little flair, pointing to her ring finger, effectively saying she was getting the championship ring.

LSU women's basketball head coach Kim Mulkey addresses Angel Reese's "you can't see me" hand gesture toward Iowa's Caitlin Clark during the women's college ...

Earlier in the game, Clark received a technical foul for throwing the ball out of bounds on a dead ball. She then congratulated LSU on the win. Reese did not get a technical foul when she did the gesture in front of Clark. "That child is a beast on the boards rebounding. Mulkey, who said she doesn't know what the gesture means, added, "If I ever have to get involved, she knows that. They had a tremendous season." But guys, social media is the world we live in, like it or not." It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me. Reese did it multiple times in the game as LSU won its first basketball championship. "Black athletes do it & they’re 'thugs' or 'classless' while white athletes do it & they’re 'competitive.'" Clark's first name was also trending, with more than 24,000 tweets.

NCAA Championship and LSU Tigers star Angel Reese has hit back at criticism for her gesture towards Iowa Hawkeyes ace Caitlin Clark in Sunday's 102-85 final ...

The narrative, I don’t fit the narrative, I don’t fit into the box y’all want me to be in. “I was just trying to get to the handshake line and shake hands and be grateful that my team was in that position. Reese’s decision to gloat in Clark’s face caused a divide on social media and among pundits following the game. Reese said after the game: “[Clark is a] hell of a player but I don’t take disrespect lightly. But I had a moment at the end of her game … [WWE](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/wwe) legend Cena’s gesture is that he moves too fast for his opponents to keep up but in Reese’s case, she added an extra twist by pointing to the finger where she plans to wear her championship ring.

The bubbly junior from Baltimore, who transferred from Maryland to join flamboyant LSU coach Kim Mulkey, was unapologetic in the postgame news conference.

"Twitter can say what Twitter can say," Reese said. All the credit in the world to LSU. What are you going to say now?" "I was just trying to get to the handshake line and shake hands and be grateful that my team was in that position," said Clark, who scored 30 points. Let's normalize women showing passion for the game instead of it being 'embarrassing.'" "If it was a boy y'all wouldn't be saying nun at all.

Sunday afternoon, the LSU Tigers took home the women's NCAA championship title but not without controversy as poor officiating affected both teams, ...

This is classless. Angel Reese is only 20, so she's still young, but taunting Caitlin Clark like this shows a pure lack of class. Win with class, lose with ...

It was bigger than me. It was bigger than me tonight. And with the exposure has come extreme criticism from many online. Immediately after the Tigers’ championship win, basketball fans on social media began voicing their displeasure with the 20-year-old star's actions. I'm too ghetto. I'm too hood.

On Sunday, April 2, Louisiana State University defeated the University of Iowa and won the NCAA women's college basketball national championship — an ...

[Reese said](https://twitter.com/sportingnews/status/1642671282767507456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1642671282767507456%7Ctwgr%5E24a8f3e617aa084ceef5b9c7ddf1903114f14582%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2F2023%2F04%2F03%2F1167704651%2Fangel-reese-caitlin-clark-you-cant-see-me-gesture), explaining that she may have gotten caught up in the moment. Further, Clark did all this while leading her team to a top-10 ranking and a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament — her performance and statistics won her the [AP Player of the Year](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LytIcY7829g) honors prior to the national championship. Keith Olbermann, a former ESPN SportsCenter anchor and MSNBC commentator, called Reese a “ [fucking idiot](https://twitter.com/keitholbermann/status/1642649593140637706?s=46&t=gVDCG-WIWRQsuSYMwZv8Xg).” Dave Portnoy, owner of Barstool Sports, echoed, calling Reese a “ [classless piece of shit](https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1642648843010428931?s=20).” [grown men](https://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1642861230221041664) especially — believe there’s no room for trash talk in women’s sports because women are perceived to be better, gentler, and above the fray. Meanwhile, trash talking and vitriol are seen as an established part of [men’s](https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/29/living/college-football-rivalries/index.html) sports and its [most compelling rivalries](https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/lakers-magic-johnsons-former-agent-recounts-tales-of-larry-bird-trash-talk-bw2021). When she hits [a “logo” three](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/sports/ncaabasketball/caitlin-clark-iowa-shooting.html) — nailing a basket from inside Michigan’s giant mid-court M, for example — she knows that’s going into the game’s highlight reel. [averaged](https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/player/_/id/4433403/caitlin-clark) 27.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 8.6 assists per game while shooting at a 47.3 percent clip through the 2022-2023 season. However, this outpouring of concern about how women athletes should behave when they win wasn’t nearly as much of an issue when Clark, who is white, was steamrolling, [trash talking](https://www.hawkcentral.com/videos/sports/college/iowa/basketball-women/2023/04/01/caitlin-clark-iowa-womens-basketball-trash-talk/11584560002/), and [mocking](https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wwe-legend-john-cena-approves-iowas-caitlin-clark-you-cant-see-me-taunt-historic-win-over-louisville) the competition. [funding and facilities](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/16/us/the-video-that-changed-the-ncaa.html). [lack of “class”](https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1642649737072463872) and how Reese, who is Black, should have conducted herself in the face of imminent victory. To those familiar with hand gestures in basketball, this was Reese’s way of telling Clark that her team won — that LSU would be getting that championship ring — and that Reese herself was unguardable. [pointed at her ring finger ](https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1642646161659154432)and waved her own hand in front her face, in the direction of Caitlin Clark, the best player on Iowa’s team.

Some took to social media to criticize Reese for taunting Iowa guard Caitlin Clark during the NCAA women's final.

I'm looking forward to celebrating and the next season." "And I'm happy. And that's what I did it for tonight.

LSU's Angel Reese, right, reacts in front of Iowa's Caitlin Clark during the NCAA Women's Final Four championship basketball game on Sunday. (Tony Gutierrez / ...

It‘s also an exhibit of the very sexism that has kept women’s sports second to men’s. Those who argue against wage parity or women’s sports stadiums inevitably claim that women athletes should receive less because they do not generate the kind of ratings and profit that the men do. Displays of anger, ambition, frustration and pride, player-to-player beefs, unlikely friendships and long-running rivalries humanize the game. It isn’t just the fundamental unfairness of such examples that’s infuriating. Well, the first way to ensure women’s games aren’t as intense and entertaining is to publicly shame any woman who reveals the same kind of emotions or engages in the same kind of behavior that make men’s games so intense and entertaining. [and widely viewed](https://www.si.com/college/2023/04/01/espn-reveals-womens-final-four-viewership-numbers) Final Four games in its history. too ghetto” to fit into women’s college basketball. Something victorious male soccer players did regularly? We’re not monkeys. We’re not thugs. She has done it herself. “We’re not bar fighters.

The NCAA tournament was a lesson in how far women's sports has come, yet the reaction to LSU's Angel Reese and how she celebrated her victory shows how far ...

[the men’s final](https://thegist.createsend1.com/t/t-l-fkhhhld-jtkdjldlid-o/) and [last weekend’s Taylor Swift concert](https://thegist.createsend1.com/t/t-l-fkhhhld-jtkdjldlid-b/) in large part because of the personality of players like Clark and Reese. In her mind, the reason for that framing is that, like LSU, her team is predominantly and unapologetically Black. It sure wasn’t when Caitlin Clark did it, so don’t make it more than elite competition when it’s Angel Reese cutting down the nets. [ring finger](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steph-curry-epically-points-ring-finger-after-huge-3-pointer-game-6) to punctuate his most recent championship he made the [“night-night”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C89vASRXKzA) celebration a trend in sports around the [world](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/stephen-curry-night-night-celebration/tyqg8c5hxllaohrgrl983tv9). In the Elite Eight, she not only flashed the “you can’t see me” gesture to Hailey Van Lith, she also told her to [shut up](https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1640782853549215744). This is who Reese is and always has been, whether Clark was in her vicinity or not. People are asking Reese to be modest at the height of her achievement. An elite athlete in her 20s talking trash is certainly not one of them. Reese was sending a message to more than just Clark. Female athletes work just as hard, so they should be able to turn up just as much. Sadly, race had been a factor in the proceedings well before the final buzzer. Anecdotally many of those expressing outrage with Reese online were men.

Why is the sports world is in a conniption over some trash talk clap back, instead of celebrating what was a coming of age event for NCAA women's ...

“Twitter is going to go on a rage every time, and I’m happy. So I’m looking forward to celebrating in the next season.” Nobody was trash talking the other Iowa players. I’m super happy and excited. “All you can do is hold your head high, be proud of what you did, and all the credit in the world to LSU,” Clark said after the game. Over hyped and excited, I followed with “on you” to my defender. That’s the crazy part. I’m too ghetto. I’m too hood. By all accounts, Clark had no problem with Reese’s antics. “They were tremendous, they deserve it. 1 South Carolina, sparking a ESPN feature,

The racist double standards Black women athletes are forced to endure are why LSU basketball star Angel Reese doesn't need to apologize to Iowa's Caitlin ...

But the reactions to Clark’s use of the “you can’t see me gesture” on March 26 were drastically different. [shared a Tweet calling](https://twitter.com/stoolpresidente/status/1642648843010428931?s=20) Reese a “classless piece of shit,” while sports commentator Keith Olbermann [quote tweeted](https://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1642649593140637706?s=20) a video of Reese with the remark: “What a f*cking idiot.” Reese followed up by mimicking Iowa guard

The Tigers' star had an honest response to the first lady's suggestion.

LSU Tigers star Angel Reese isn't a fan of first lady Jill Biden's idea for the Iowa Hawkeyes to also receive a White House invite following the NCAA...

So, we hope LSU will come,” she said while speaking at the Colorado state capital in Denver. [LSU's thrilling national championship game win](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/lsu-beats-iowa-102-85-programs-first-ever-national-championship?chrcontext=KNBC) over Iowa in Dallas on Sunday, the first lady said she would [like to have the runner-up Hawkeyes come to the White House](/news/sports/jill-biden-wants-champions-lsu-and-iowa-at-white-house/) in addition to the champion Tigers. [Angel Reese reacts to Jill Biden wanting Iowa to visit White House](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/lsus-angel-reese-reacts-jill-biden-wanting-iowa-visit-white-house?cid=Yahoo&partner=ya4nbcs&chrcontext=KNBC) originally appeared on [NBC Sports Chicago](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago?cid=MSN&chrcontext=KNBC)

LSU Tigers star Angel Reese isn't a fan of first lady Jill Biden's idea for the Iowa Hawkeyes to receive a White House invite.

So, we hope LSU will come,” she said while speaking at the Colorado state capital in Denver. ["you can't see me" gesture from Reese to Caitlin Clark](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/lsus-angel-reese-does-you-cant-see-me-gesture-iowas-caitlin-clark) inside the White House? [LSU's thrilling national championship game win](https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/lsu-beats-iowa-102-85-programs-first-ever-national-championship) over Iowa in Dallas on Sunday, the first lady said she would [like to have the runner-up Hawkeyes come to the White House](https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/sports/jill-biden-wants-champions-lsu-and-iowa-at-white-house/) in addition to the champion Tigers.

White House visits are traditionally for champions. Iowa is not a champion. LSU is. So when First Lady Jill Biden suggested on Monday that the White House ...

The White House did not immediately respond to AP's request for comment about whether President Joe Biden would extend an invitation to Iowa, according to the ...

The LSU forward has also drawn major attention online in the past 24 hours for [mimicking Caitlin Clark’s you-can’t-see-me celebration](https://theathletic.com/4375094/2023/04/03/the-pulse-angel-reese-caitlin-clark/) once the game was in hand. Here’s what you need to know: [LSU](https://theathletic.com/womens-college-basketball/team/lsu-lady-tigers/) women’s basketball star [Angel Reese](https://theathletic.com/womens-college-basketball/player/angel-reese-meEvhBE1yC1kNsqM/) called first lady Jill Biden’s comment about potentially extending a White House invite to [Iowa](https://theathletic.com/womens-college-basketball/team/iowa-hawkeyes/) “a joke” in a tweet Monday.

LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese took to Twitter on Monday to laught at first lady Jill Biden saying she wants POTUS Joe Biden to also host March Madness ...

Runner-ups don't get invited to the White House. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game." [Every NCAA champion](https://www.marca.com/en/ncaa/2023/04/04/642b91ae268e3ed73c8b466b.html) is always invited to the White House, but following Jill Biden's comments, some of their star players [might decide not to attend](https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel/status/1643053902957355008). So, we hope LSU will come," she said. [Angel Reese not the only NCAA champ in her family, cousin wins with UConn](https://www.marca.com/en/ncaa/2023/04/04/642ba34346163f5a388b46b1.html) [March Madness](https://www.marca.com/en/ncaa/college-basketball.html?intcmp=MENUMIGA&s_kw=college-basketball) runner-up Iowa Hawkeyes at the White House.

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Michael Smith on the latest episode of "Good Word with Goodwill” on the Ball Don't Lie ...

LSU star Angel Reese tweeted a link to a story on Jill Biden's remarks on Monday. " A JOKE," she wrote, along with three rolling-on-floor-laughing emojis.

have come since Title IX in 1972 gave women equal rights in sports at schools that receive federal funding. Reese was unapologetic. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game." So, we hope LSU will come," she said. If she saw Reese's gestures, Clark didn't seem concerned about them. She watched LSU's 102-85 victory over Iowa from the stands on Sunday night.

First Lady Jill Biden said on Monday that she's hoping Caitlin Clark and the Iowa women's basketball team are invited alongside national champions LSU when…

"I don't fit in the box that you all want me to be in. It was her 34th double-double of the season, I was just in my bag, in my moment." It was bigger than me tonight." "So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. While champions across various sports are almost always invited to visit the White House, the losing team in the championship game is never afforded that honor.