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ALBANY, N.Y. — This facade of toughness and cockiness that Angel Reese creates comes at a price.
She hears the contempt, sees the never-hidden slander, and crushes it, hiding the hurt in the corners of her heart. Because she realizes it’s bigger than herself. She smiles and pretends to be over everything. Because I know there are little black girls and young black women watching her who think that if Angel Reese can be real and unapologetic, then they can be too.
But it was painful and left Reese with the most severe scar he’s ever had on a basketball court. The pain of losing to Iowa in the Elite Eight on Monday night was compounded by the knowledge of the pain that was sure to follow.
After the game, when asked how her teammates, Fraujae Johnson and Haley Van Lith, had reacted to her unsolicited defense of her character, she spoke with pain in her voice. she.
“I can’t speak up about things because I just ignore them. I just try to stand strong. I’ve been through a lot. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve been attacked many times. I’ve been through it. I’ve been through death threats, sexual advances, intimidation. I’ve been through a lot, but I’ve stood strong every time.”
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Let’s think about it. She’s a 21-year-old who receives death threats and hate just for being herself. why? Is it because she is black? woman? both? Is it because she has her confidence and she’s not afraid to show it? Or does she know her worth and won’t accept anything less?
What is it that infuriates these keyboard warriors so much that they feel the need to direct their particularly virulent sentiments of racism and misogyny at her? Do people who don’t know her have the right to act as if they know her, pass judgment on her, and criticize her?
Celebs have been Reese’s constant companions since last year’s Final Four. But so is hatred.
Reese isn’t looking for sympathy. Johnson and Van Lith volunteered their assistance to her, and she was asked for her reaction.
But the vulnerability she showed reminds us of how much humanity we have lost and the cost that comes as a result.
“I think Angel is one of the toughest people I’ve ever been around,” said Van Lith, who is white. “People throw hateful words into her life. I’ve never seen anyone wish as bad on someone as she does, but it doesn’t affect her. She comes to practice every day. She lives her life every day. She lives the way she wants to live and won’t let anyone change that.
“That’s the key to life. You can’t reach her. Let me say it again: You’re never going to get to Angel Reese. You’re wasting your energy, so maybe you should throw in the towel.” yeah.”
If you don’t acknowledge that race is the most important factor in all of this, you’re in denial.
Reese was savvy enough to realize that the sport was as much entertainment as it was athleticism, and he fully embraced his role on the show. She was both a rebounder and an incredible trash talker, forever remembered for both of last year’s NCAA Tournaments by Reese at the end of LSU’s win over Iowa in the national championship game. is seen waving his ring finger at Caitlin Clark.
It was never personal. Reese was doing exactly what basketball players, male and female, have been doing since the game began. Clark is doing what he himself did.
But when Clark did it, she was praised.
When Reese did it, she wasn’t.
“I don’t fit into the box that you guys want me to put in. I’m too stupid. I’m too ghetto,” Reese said after last year’s title fight.
However, she was willing to play the role because she believes it is for the greater good.
Like Clark, Reese is the star of a group of young women who are upending sports and society. At the most basic level, it’s increasing interest in women’s sports and making sure people give female athletes the respect and recognition they’ve been denied for so long.
But Reese carries the added burden of representing a young black woman. By taking ownership of her talents and successes, Ms. Reese is showing young women that it’s okay to express themselves. Be proud of who you are and never give up on anyone, on or off the basketball court.
“The crown she wears is heavy,” Johnson said. “She’s the type of teammate that makes you believe in yourself. Her jump from her freshman year to her sophomore year? Angel gave me confidence.”
Reese snorted and cried quietly as Johnson and Van Lith spoke passionately on her behalf. She has tried to protect others, both those close to her and those watching from afar, from the shit that has become a permanent part of her existence.
But she can no longer hide the obvious fact. Before the Sweet 16 game between LSU and UCLA, the Los Angeles Times published a column filled with racism and misogyny. Anger at Reese and her audacity in particular was palpable, and persisted even after the paper appropriately updated the article to remove the worst aspects of the feature.
villain? Dirty debutante? Is it because his senior year in college just wants to play the game he loves and have a little fun while doing it?
“I’m just trying to stand strong for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me down and not be there for them,” Reese said. . “I said the other day that I haven’t known a peaceful day (since the national championships). And it’s the worst. But I still haven’t changed. I wouldn’t change anything.
“I still want to sit here and unapologetically say that I am who I am,” she said. “Hopefully, I give some inspiration to the little girls who look up to me… (to) just be who you are, keep waking up every day, stay motivated, be who you are, put your 10 toes up. Please don’t do that, stand back and be confident.”
Reese had another message. It was a reminder that she was, first and foremost, human.
That’s more than the trolls who made her life hell last year can say.
Follow USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
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