DALLAS (AP) — LSU’s Angel Reese waved her hand in front of her face as she stared at Caitlin Clark, then pointed to her finger as if to say a ring was coming as she walked toward the Iowa star.
The gestures late in the Tigers’ 102-85 win in Sunday’s NCAA championship game, social media lit up, with comments supporting the “Bayou Barbie” for nonsense talk that’s just part of the game and condemning her for lack of grace in the win.
The sparkling Baltimore junior, who switched from Maryland to join flamboyant LSU coach Kim Mulkey, was unapologetic in the post-game press conference.
“All year I was criticized for who I was,” Reese said. “I don’t fit into a box you want me to be in. I’m too crazy. I’m too ghetto. But when other people do it, you say nothing. So this was for the girls who look like me who will say what they believe in. You are unashamed.
Clark, the scoring sensation who was the first with consecutive 40-point games in an NCAA tournament, made the waving face to no one in particular during an Elite Eight victory over Louisville.
The Associated Press Player of the Year wasn’t shy about showing her emotions as the Hawkeyes beat undefeated defending champion South Carolina in the semifinals.
When she saw Reese’s gestures, Clark seemed unconcerned.
“I was just trying to get to the handshake line and shake hands and be thankful my team was in that position,” said Clark, who scored 30 points. “That’s all you can do, hold your head up, be proud of what you’ve done. All the credit in the world to LSU. They were great.”
In a 79-72 semifinal victory over Virginia Tech, Reese made several apparent “you’re too small” gestures after scoring around the basket.
The fashionable six-foot post with modeling aspirations becomes one magnet for social media. Reese attempted to woo Lil Wayne after chastising the New Orleans rapper for contacting Elite Eight opponent Miami before doing the same with the Tigers.
“I’m still myself, but I can’t do it without the girls here, and I can’t do it without the rest of my teammates and coaches,” said Reese, who had 15 points and 10 rebounds while three teammates scored at least 20 points.
She was named the most outstanding player at the Final Four after setting an NCAA single-season record with her 34th double-double against the Hawkeyes.
“Twitter can say what Twitter can say,” Reese said. “I love reading those comments. I have all the screenshots of what everyone has been saying about me all season. What are you going to say now?”
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More AP coverage of March Madness: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
