Angel Reese sends emphatic message following LSU's national title win
LSU forward Angel Reese now stands on top of the women’s college basketball world, and she is letting everyone know. Following a dominant 102-85 victory against Iowa on Sunday to claim the national championship, Reese let out her emotions on the court.
“What y’all gonna say now?!” Reese repeated twice while holding up a flag celebrating the title and pointing to her ring finger. “Oh, OK.”
Reese was a pivotal part of the Tigers’ victory, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The performance marked her 34th double-double this season, setting a Division 1 record. She was even awarded a crown to wear after being named the Most Outstanding Player for the NCAA Tournament.
Reese beat out Iowa guard Caitlin Clark for that honor. Clark put together a historic NCAA Tournament run in which she became the first player in tournament history — men’s or women’s — to record a 40-point triple-double. She also set March Madness records for most points scored and 3-pointers made in a single tournament.
Clark won both the Naismith and AP Player of the Year awards for her historic season. However, Reese and the Tigers overcame all the hype surrounding Clark with a team effort on Sunday as five different players scored in double figures. Clark scored 30 points in the loss on 9-of-22 (40.9%) shooting but turned it over six times.
The 102 points scored by the Tigers were the most ever in a championship game. They finished the game with incredibly efficient shooting numbers of 37-of-69 (53.6%) from the field and 10-of-16 (62.5%) from 3-point range.
Angel Reese taunts Caitlin Clark with John Cena celebration
Reese’s celebration didn’t end there, however, as she was very vocal after the win. She mocked Clark in the waning seconds of the win, pointing to her ring finger and imitating the ‘you can’t see me’ celebration originated by WWE wrestler John Cena that Clark pulled out after an Elite Eight win.
Reese later doubled down on the decision, admitting that it was a trick that was up her sleeve heading into the national championship. She cited a moment from Iowa’s Final Four win against South Carolina in which Clark “disrespected” Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson, leaving her wide open from 3-point range and waving her off.
“I was waiting, when I tell you I was waiting, I was waiting,” she said. “Caitlin Clark is a hell of a player for sure, but I don’t take disrespect lightly. And she disrespected Alexis (Morris) and my girls, South Carolina they’re still my SEC girls too, but y’all gonna disrespect them either.”