Photo:Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty
Justin Tafoya/NCAA Photos via Getty
Angel Reeseis 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 Iowain 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 shestepped away from the teamfor nearly two weeks and four games in November.
When askedabout 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.”
In the anticipated rematch of last year’s championship game on Monday night, Reese and Iowa starCaitlin Clarkmet 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.”
Yet with her teammatesFlau’jae Johnsonand 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.”
source: people.com
