LSU’s Angel Reese Isn’t Apologizing to Caitlin Clark, and She Doesn’t Have To

In addition to the media’s penchant for portraying Black women athletes as aggressive, masculine, and unable to control their emotions, there are also people within the sport who contribute to the narrative. Earlier in the week, Iowa’s coach Lisa Bolder equated the rebounding of their March 31st opponent, the predominantly-Black South Carolina Gamecocks, to “going to a bar fight,” chalking her comment up to her favor of tongue-in-cheek references. Nonetheless, it is those very comments that are a mainstay in perpetuating misogynoir and tropes that are harmful to Black women, on and off the court.

After South Carolina’s loss to Iowa, on the heels of an undefeated season, coach Dawn Staley took the time during her post-game interview to defend her team and their playing style. “We’re not bar fighters. We’re not thugs. We’re not monkeys. We’re not street fighters,” the longtime coach said in response to the media’s portrayal of the Gamecocks. “It just confirms what we already know. So watch what you say when you’re in public and you’re talking about my team in particular because it’s wrong.” Staley called for the media to not to judge her team by the color of their skin and to get to know them like they care to get to know other players of other races.

Despite a social media storm of racism and double standards, Angel Reese and the rest of the LSU women’s basketball team are “happy.” They are, deservedly, celebrating their monumental win with no regard for outside opinions on their decorum. Tuning out the noise from berating onlookers who encourage her to show up as anyone other than herself, Reese tweeted out two messages shortly after the championship game complete with a kissy emoji and halo-ed smiley: “I LOVE BEING A BLACK QUEEN,” “And no I’M NOT KEEPING IT CUTE.” And she shouldn’t. It should not be expected of Reese to meet disparaging comments about her character, background, appearance, or talent with “grace” and “class.” She should be able to walk with her head held high, lashes done to perfection, a crown atop her 30-inch curly hair, with a new ring on her French-tipped finger to replace the marker manifestation that she and her team made a reality — and if it’s up to her, she will.