Angel Reese Says She Got Death Threats as She Reflects After Season-Ending Loss: ‘I’ve Been Through So Much’
The LSU star has not said whether she'll return for another year or declare for the WNBA Draft
Angel Reese is speaking out about the toll the past year has taken
Following LSU's loss to Iowa on Monday, Reese spoke to reporters about what she says she has dealt with, from death threats to being "sexualized"
The college star has yet to announce if she will return to LSU for another year or head to the WNBA
Angel Reese is reflecting on the past year since LSU’s championship last April, and says she “wouldn’t change anything” despite the hardships she has faced.
"I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much,” the basketball star, 21, said at a press conference after the Tigers’ loss to Iowa in the Elite Eight Monday night. “I’ve been attacked so many times. Death threats. I’ve been sexualized. I’ve been threatened. There are so many things and I’ve stood strong every single time.”
Reese gave a glimpse at how she was handling being in the spotlight, when she stepped away from the team for nearly two weeks and four games in November.
When asked about the reason for her absence at the time, the Maryland native was not specific, but explained: "My mental health is the most important before anything, and I'm gonna make sure I'm okay before anything, because I don't wanna cause any harm or cancer in the locker room."
Related: Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes Defeat Angel Reese’s LSU Tigers in Epic Rematch Game
In the anticipated rematch of last year’s championship game on Monday night, Reese and Iowa star Caitlin Clark met once again.
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After the Tigers defeated the Hawkeyes in last year’s title game, Reese became well known for her “You can’t see me” taunts toward Clark — who had been doing the same taunt earlier in the tournament — which went viral among basketball fans.
“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,” Reese explained on Monday, about her mindset when playing the game and dealing with adversity. “I’m still a human. All of this has happened since I won the national championship. I said the other day I haven’t [been] happy since then.”
Related: Angel Reese Calls Out Social Media Users for Making ‘Crazy’ AI Images of Her
Yet with her teammates Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith supporting her on each side of the dais, Reese emphasized that she “wouldn’t change anything” that’s happened over the course of the last year.
On Monday, Reese finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out with 1:45 to play.
While she has not announced whether she’ll return for another season with LSU or declare for the WNBA Draft, the NIL star said she is aware of the impact that she is making on the next generation.
“I would still sit here and say I’m unapologetically me," Reese said. "I’m going to always leave that mark and be who I am and stand on that. Hopefully the little girls that look up to me, hopefully I give them some type of inspiration."
She added, "Hopefully it’s not this hard and all the things that come at you, but keep being who you are, keep waking up every day, keep being motivated, staying who you are, staying 10 toes [down], don’t back down and just be confident.”
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