Angel Reese Criticized For Taunting Opponent

Paying homage to one of the greatest shit-talkers in history, Reese flashed the iconic "You can't see me" gesture popularized by WWE star John Cena on the court directed toward Clark. She also pointed at her vacant ring finger, signaling a perfect place for a championship ring to sit. It was an exhilarating game and ended in a 102-85 win for LSU, also being the most-watched women's basketball game ever recorded, but folks had other things they were focused on.

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While taunting and trash talking is nothing new in the world of sports, Reese was targeted for what some deemed as "classless" behavior. The internet exploded with reactions ranging from entertained to downright angry.

In particular, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy was called out for his aggressive response to the playful incident, going so far as to call Reese a "classless piece of shit."

While none of this should be as controversial as it was made out to be, the situation earned the attention of not just the entire internet, but the world of sports and cultural commentary. The glaring double standard of white athletes' behavior compared to Black athletes has been called into question, especially the way in which Reese, a young Black woman, has been labeled as "aggressive" and "rude," racialized terms that have been used to insult women of color.

In a piece for Teen Vogue, Leah Goodridge and Olayemi Olurin wrote: "While navigating anti-Blackness in the workplace, we’ve both been told — as many Black professionals have been — to 'play the game.' But the game, which is rigged with limited boxes, stereotypes, and implicit biases beyond our control, is designed for us to lose."

Even Clark, who has been celebrated for her spirited on-the-court taunts, has stepped in to defend Reese. "We're all competitive,” the West Des Moines junior guard said in a conversation with ESPN. “We all show our emotions in a different way. Angel is a tremendous, tremendous player. I have nothing but respect for her. I love her game. The way she rebounds the ball, scores the ball is absolutely incredible. I’m a big fan of her and the entire LSU team."

Clark further goes on to say, "She should never be criticized for what she did."

And that's why teamwork makes the dream work!

Photo courtesy Maddie Meyer/Getty Images