Louisiana State University Tigers forward Angel Reese is unfairly under fire by some on social media after trolling the University of Iowa Hawkeyes player Caitlin Clark during the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball tournament. The game was a landmark victory for the Tigers, who raked in a whopping 102 to snag their first national title.

Reese played spectacularly. At one point during the game, she relished her achievement by pointing to her ring finger, hinting at LSU winning its first ring in the program’s history. She also threw up a “Can’t See Me” move. Both gestures were aimed at Clark, who demonstrated the latter during Iowa’s semifinal win against South Carolina.

SportsCenter shared a clip of the ultimate “gotcha” moment on Twitter, writing “ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK,” with a stunned emoji.

Many viewers were highly critical of the move.

“Excellent player, good game. But is all that necessary? Humble in victory?” former NFL reporter Sean K. Jensen wrote.

“Guees who overshadowed @Reese10Angel in the title game? @CaitlinClark22 did. Absolutely classless move by Reese,” another added. 

“Angel Reese has no class,” one viewer asserted, adding later Clark is “all class.”

Other viewers pointed out the double standard at play. When Clark employs the same “showboating” behavior, fans celebrate her for her confidence, but when Reese, a Black player, does, it’s quickly deemed distasteful.

“The way y’all ALWAYS attempt to humble black women when their white counterparts do the EXACT same things will NEVER sit right with me. #LSU,” one person wrote. 

Many users shared a meme of both Clark and Reese doing the “Can’t See Me” move.

 

“Media LAUGHED at Caitlin Clark disrespectfully, and unnecessarily, waving off South Carolina guards on offense. Watch how they do Angel Reese for giving it back to Clark. Wait for it. #NCAAChampionship,” one user commented. 

Another pointed out that this moment wouldn’t have received as much media attention if Reese and Clark were men.

“I’m more pissed at how they can’t celebrate women as athletes. Always focusing on the wrong stuff. Solid athletes played this tournament. Do better, media. Do better,” they tweeted.

Reese addressed the backlash, explaining this kind of criticism is nothing new to her.

“All year I was critiqued about who I was. I’m too hood, I’m too ghetto, y’all told me that all year. When other people do it, y’all don’t say nothing. This was for the people that look like me,” she tweeted.

During the championship game, Reese set a record with 34 double-doubles, the most made by one person in women’s NCAA Division I history.

She left the game having scored 15 points and secured 10 rebounds with five assists.

Angel ReeseLouisiana State University