LSU’s hopes of repeating as national champions came to an end on Monday night with a 94-87 loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight in a rematch of last season’s title game.
It may have been the final game in a Tigers uniform for Angel Reese, who is a projected top pick in the WNBA draft but has the opportunity to return to LSU.
After the game, Reese took the chance to address criticism she has received from fans and media, stating that she has received death threats and hasn’t been truly happy since the team won the national title last year.
“I don’t really get to speak out on things just because I try to ignore,” Reese told reporters. “I just try to stand strong. I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times (with) death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened. I’ve been so many things and I’ve stood strong every single time.
“I just try to stand strong for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me down and not be there for them. I just want them to always just know I’m still a human. All this has happened since I won the national championship. I said the other day, I haven’t been happy since then. And it sucks, but I still wouldn’t change. I wouldn’t change anything, and I’d still sit here and say that I’m unapologetically me.”
"I just try to stay strong… I've been attacked so many times. Death threats, I've been sexualized, I've been threatened… I'm still human. All this has happened since I won the national championship & I haven't been happy since then."
– Angel Reesepic.twitter.com/fIvQWtefnx
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 2, 2024
Reese’s teammates [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] and [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] also took the opportunity to defend Reese from what they perceived to be hate directed toward her.
Y’all do not get to her. Let me say it again. Y’all do not get to Angel Reese,” Van Lith said. “So you might want to throw the towel in because you’re wasting your energy.”
If this truly is the end of the road for Reese at LSU, it’s been quite a memorable two years for the Bayou Barbie.
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.