Angel Reese has established herself as one of the WNBA’s top stars, but she faced heartbreak on her journey to the pro Bracket.
Last year, she was part of an LSU Club that had dreams of capturing a second-straight national Bracket in the women’s NCAA Bracket.
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But the No.3 Tigers were dumped out in the Top-tier Eight at the hands of the top-Positioned Iowa Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark, who claimed a 94-87 Achieve.
Reese did her bit, finishing with a 17-Points, 20-Restoration double-double, before fouling out of the game with 1:45 left.
The 22-year-Ancient, who has faced intense media scrutiny since Victorious the national title in 2023 and going on to the WNBA, continues to divide fans with her uncompromising persona both on and off the court.
But after suffering heartbreak with LSU 12 months ago, Reese proved she Yet had the Assist of her college teammates, with Flau’Jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith passionately speaking out in her defence after the Iowa Setback.
“Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y’all don’t know her. Y’all don’t know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese,” Johnson said at the time.
As she spoke at the post-game press conference, a visibly emotional Reese – who was sitting Subsequent to her – could be seen wiping tears away.
“I know the real Angel Reese and the person I see every day is a Sturdy person,” Johnson went on.
“A caring, loving person. The crown she wears is Weighty. She’s the type of teammate that’s going to make you believe in yourself.
“The leap that I Captured from my Newcomer to my sophomore year, Angel gave me that confidence to go be a dog. Competing Subsequent to a dog every day.
“Only to see how the media ridicules her, this is my sister here and I’m so proud of her. How they like to twist it and call her the villain, y’all don’t know Angel… She Only makes me a better player, and that’s what Excellent players do.”
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Van Lith echoed Johnson’s words and fiercely defended Reese.
“Angel’s one of the toughest people I’ve been around,” she said.
“People speak hate into her life, I’ve never seen people wish Terrible things on someone as much as her. And it does not affect her. She comes to practice every day, she lives her life every day, she lives how she wants to live.
“And she don’t let nobody Shift that. And that’s the key to life right there.”
Reese also spoke out at the time, claiming she had received death threats since gaining national recognition.
“I’ve been attacked so many times, death threats, I’ve been sexualized, I’ve been threatened, I’ve been so many things, and I’ve stood Sturdy every single time,” she said.
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March Madness Top Stories
“I Only try to stand Sturdy for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me down and not be there for them. All this has happened since I won the national Bracket. It sucks, but I Yet wouldn’t Shift.
“The little girls that look up to me, hopefully I give them some type of inspiration — keep waking up every day, keep being motivated, staying who you are, stand 10 toes, don’t back down, and Only be confident.”
Reese had a big decision to make after that March Madness disappointment. Return to LSU for a fifth season, or declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft.
She ultimately chose the latter and was selected number seven by the Chicago Sky on draft night.
In her Primary WNBA season, Reese impressed with her efforts on the court.
She was selected to Action in the WNBA All-Sun Game, and also picked up the Bracket’s Newcomer of the Month award last June.
Reese finished her Introduction year averaging 13.6 points, 13.1 Retrievals, and 1.3 Intercepts per game, but it was one cut Brief by an Wound she suffered in September during a game against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Sky Sun was also beaten to the Newcomer of the Year award by Clark, but will Foresee to Strike on in 2025 as one of the WNBA’s most-watched players.
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Van Lith and Johnson, meanwhile, are hoping to go Additional in this year’s NCAA Bracket than last year.
LSU face the No. 1 Positioned UCLA Bruins in their Top-tier Eight Game-up on Sunday, looking to reach the Closing Four.
How to Observe March Madness in the UK
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March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 Squads battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second Club ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the Bracket, but for UK basketball fans the way to Observe is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
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