During her final college basketball season at LSU, star forward Angel Reese faced a significant amount of online scrutiny. Reese missed a few games early in the 2023-24 season, which ignited a flurry of rumors and speculations.
Some rumors suggested her absence was due to academic issues, while others hinted at behavioral reasons. The true reasons behind her brief departure from the team remained unclear, but Reese did make a strong comeback to the court.
In response to the speculation, particularly about her academics and personal life, Reese made her feelings clear in an interview with ESPN. “I want people to underestimate me,” she stated. “I have everything bookmarked for the right moment when everything just falls right into my hands.”
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Addressing the rumors directly, Reese said, “They said I was too worried about social media, my GPA was low, I was pregnant. Yeah, my stats have gone down maybe four to five points because I’m on a way better team this year. But I’m still averaging a double-double every game. I think people don’t realize I can do 10,000 things and still be good at all of them. And I can’t wait till just everything just falls right into place.”
Reese, who was among the most criticized players in recent women’s college basketball history, is now poised to begin her professional career in the WNBA, hoping to continue her trajectory of stardom. As she transitions to the professional league, Reese also expresses a hope for reduced negativity towards female athletes.
The 2024 WNBA regular season is set to start early next month, marking a new chapter for Reese and an opportunity to silence her critics on a bigger stage.