ALBANY, NEW YORK - APRIL 01: Angel Reese #10, right, and Flau'jae Johnson #4 of the LSU Tigers soeak with the media after losing to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on April 01, 2024 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Flau’jae Johnson recently took the time to set the record straight about her teammate Angel Reese! The LSU Tigers’ players spoke to the media following their loss against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday night (April 1). It was a tense and close game, with Iowa taking the W with 94 points versus LSU’s 87.
Reese became emotional as she reflected on her time in the college league. She tearfully explained that she hasn’t had peace since winning the National Championship with the LSU Tigers last year — the team’s first-ever NCAA title win. Last year, the Tigers blew the Hawkeyes off the court with a bombshell 103-85 score.
Following that W, though, Angel Reese was heavily criticized for gesturing John Cena’s ‘You Can’t See Me’ sign at Iowa’s Caitlin Clark during the game. The Tigers’ forward player ultimately stood ten toes behind the competitive gesture, and Clark stood behind her.
While Reese kept a brave face through that intense backlash, she clarified that it wasn’t easy doing so then, now, or anytime she faces critiques.
“I stand strong, I’ve been through so much, I’ve seen so much. I’ve been attacked so many times,” Reese said, her voice cracking with emotion. “Death threats. I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened. I’ve been so many things and I’ve stood strong every single time.”
Angel added that her teammates inspire her strength because she doesn’t want them to “see [her] down and not be there for them.”
“I just want them to know all this has happened since I won the National Championship and I said the other day, I haven’t had peace since then. And it sucks, but I still wouldn’t change anything, and I will still say I’m unapologetically me.”
She shared that she hopes the “little girls” looking up to her can find inspiration in her being true to herself.
See Angel’s comments below.
After Angel shared her inner thoughts, LSU Tigers’ #4 made it clear who she rides for! Flau’jae Johnson got serious on the mic, letting folks know they’re entitled to their “opinions” on Angel. Ultimately, though, Johnson said the critics don’t “know” Reese like she does.
“…But y’all don’t know her. Y’all don’t know Angel Reese. I know the real Angel Reese. And the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring, loving person. Bro, the crown she wears is heavy bro. She’s the type of teammate that’s gon’ make you believe in yourself. The leap that I took from my freshman to sophomore year, Angel gave me that confidence to be a dawg, playing next to a dawg every day.”
Flau’jae criticized the media for painting Angel as a “villain,” once again reiterating that the world nor the media really knows her “sister.”
“I’m just happy that I get to play with her,” Johnson added. “I get to be around her presence, her energy is different. She just make me a better player and that’s what great players do.”
Watch Johnson defend her teammate below.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), Flau’jae addressed the LSU Tigers’ loss. The sophomore wrote, “We will be back, I will be better. Thank you for all the love. Thank you, Jesus.”
And just so we’re clear, win or lose, Johnson wasn’t wrong about Angel being THAT growl and a great player. But we’ll let CBS Sports tell it below!
