The Louisiana State University Tigers won the NCAA women’s national championship at the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas in conclusive fashion on Monday. For the first time since 1997, a number 3 seed won the crown as the Tigers ripped the Iowa Hawkeyes, 102-85. One of the heroes of the game was LSU forward Angel Reese as she recorded 15 points and 10 boards in the title-clinching contest.
But it wasn’t the only reason why the 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player stood out in the championship match that attracted a crowd of 19,482 people. With less than a minute left in a game that’s all but decided, Reese walked up to Iowa star Caitlin Clark to hit her with some endgame trash talk. With the Tigers up, 98-22, the 20-year-old double-double machine taunted Clark with a “you can’t see me” gesture. Reese then finished things off by pointing to her ring finger while strutting in front of Clark.
Of course, the LSU standout got criticized on social media for her actions. Reese, however, got the chance to explain her side during the postgame press conference.
“All year I was critiqued about who I was. I don’t feed the narrative… I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing,” Reese told reporters.
Referring to Clark who used to do “you can’t see me” gesture throughout her spectacular March Madness campaign, perhaps the 6-foot-3 Reese was actually trying to make a statement, and point out the obvious double standard.
“So, this is for all the girls that look like me that’s going to speak on what they believe in, who's unapologetically you. And that’s what I did tonight. It was bigger than me," said Reese.