Angel Reese is standing by her gesture aimed at Iowa Hawkeyes' Caitlin Clark during LSU's national championship win, saying "I don't take disrespect lightly." The gesture, popularized by WWE star John Cena, was seen as a reference to the place Clark might put her new championship ring.
Reese can be seen approaching Clark before moving her open hand in front of her face and pointing to her ring finger. Some interpreted it as a sign that she's ready for her own ring. The gesture has sparked much debate, especially on social media, with some criticizing Reese while others defended her actions.
The reaction to the gesture is striking given that Clark made a similar gesture earlier in the tournament. However, when Clark did it, there was no public outcry.
Sports journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz called Reese's action "classless," while former ESPN host Keith Olbermann described her as an "idiot" for doing so. In contrast, Clark said she didn't notice anything unusual and simply tried to get to the handshake line after the game.
However, not everyone shared that view. Former NBA star Etan Thomas defended Reese on Twitter, saying "Stop hating on Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark. Unapologetically confident young women should be celebrated – not hated."
Reese said she's used to being criticized throughout her season and that her actions were a way of expressing herself. She also referenced the negative reaction on social media as fuel for her excellent performance, averaging 23 points and 15 rebounds in her first season with LSU.
In the post-game press conference, Clark praised LSU coach Kim Mulkey, saying she's "one of the best basketball coaches of all time." When asked about Reese's gesture, Clark said she was simply trying to spend a few moments on the court with her teammates.
Reese can be seen approaching Clark before moving her open hand in front of her face and pointing to her ring finger. Some interpreted it as a sign that she's ready for her own ring. The gesture has sparked much debate, especially on social media, with some criticizing Reese while others defended her actions.
The reaction to the gesture is striking given that Clark made a similar gesture earlier in the tournament. However, when Clark did it, there was no public outcry.
Sports journalist Jose de Jesus Ortiz called Reese's action "classless," while former ESPN host Keith Olbermann described her as an "idiot" for doing so. In contrast, Clark said she didn't notice anything unusual and simply tried to get to the handshake line after the game.
However, not everyone shared that view. Former NBA star Etan Thomas defended Reese on Twitter, saying "Stop hating on Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark. Unapologetically confident young women should be celebrated – not hated."
Reese said she's used to being criticized throughout her season and that her actions were a way of expressing herself. She also referenced the negative reaction on social media as fuel for her excellent performance, averaging 23 points and 15 rebounds in her first season with LSU.
In the post-game press conference, Clark praised LSU coach Kim Mulkey, saying she's "one of the best basketball coaches of all time." When asked about Reese's gesture, Clark said she was simply trying to spend a few moments on the court with her teammates.