LSU's Angel Reese Says She Got Death Threats, Was Sexualized Since National Title Win

Basketball was far from the only thing on LSU star Angel Reese's mind after her team's 94-87 loss to Iowa in Monday's Elite Eight game of the 2024 NCAA women's tournament.

"I just try to stay strong," she told reporters. "I've been through so much. I've seen so much. I've been attacked so many times. Death threats, I've been sexualized, I've been threatened. I've been so many things, and I've stood strong every single time.

"... I'm still human. All this has happened since I won the national championship, and I said the other day, I haven't been happy since then."

Reese's teammates had her back.

"Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese," Flau'jae Johnson told reporters. "But, y'all don't know her. Y'all don't know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese. I know the real Angel Reese. And the person I see every day is a strong person. She's a caring and loving person."

Hailey Van Lith also offered her support for her teammate:

Reese started her college basketball career at Maryland, but she became a household name after she transferred to LSU ahead of the 2022-23 season. All she did that campaign was lead the Tigers to the national championship as a First-Team All-American who averaged 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds per game.

That season ended with a national championship victory over Caitlin Clark and the Hawkeyes in a game that generated plenty of discourse, especially when the LSU star pointed at her ring finger and did the "you can't see me" gesture toward the Iowa guard.

For her part, Clark said Reese should not be criticized in the aftermath of that game:

It's clear after Reese's comments that many did not take those words to heart, which has led to threats and other regrettable actions that she said have impacted her well-being.

Even under that type of spotlight, she helped lead the Tigers to another excellent season in 2023-24 as a Second-Team All-American. LSU fell short of another national title because of a loss to Iowa in the rematch, but Reese received nothing but support from her teammates in a moment that resonated beyond basketball.