The dark side of popularity really exists. Not many would know this better than
Chicago’s rookie Angel Reese.
From her very entry into the LSU Tigers to her everyday moves, she has known
what it feels like to be under scrutiny.
And amidst all the hype, there have been some really stressful times when the
Chi-Town Barbie has hit the lowest of the lows.
Nevertheless, keeping her head high, she has also proven that she is tough and
courageous. Something that her coach Teresa Weatherspoon adores about her.
Talking to the media in the post-game conference about her take on the negative
side of fame that Reese faces every day, T-spoon had nothing but praise.
She commented on the same, saying, “She handles it very well, she closes it
out.” The Sky coach also added a conversation that she and Angel Reese had.
She said, “My question to her was, ‘Being so young and so popular and the things
that are written about you that people don’t really even know you, how does it
feel?” Replaying the Bayou Barbie’s answer, Weatherspoon told the press, “She
said, ‘I’ve learned how to block it out and to trust myself.”
Commending the 22-year-old star, the Basketball Hall of Famer said, “It’s tough. I
have a lot of respect of how they handle themselves with the popularity that they
have and then the way things are written about them. If you really knew the
person, those things wouldn’t be written. Incredible young lady, angelic type of
young lady.”
According to the head coach, the most important thing is that Angel Reese knows
that the team she plays with is going to love her the most and have her back. But
she also has a strong stance on why Reese gets negative comments.
T-spoon explains why Angel Reese gets the hate
While most incidents show how much the basketball world loves the former Lady
Tiger, many instances also show how much people hate her.
Whether you look at the time when she cried after her Elite Eight loss to Caitlin
Clark and Co. or when she left for the Met Gala for her 22nd birthday just 24
hours before her pre-season game against the New York Liberty, she has known
the haters as much as fans.
According to Weatherspoon, “(Reese) loves people. But when people are
competing, so they probably would’ve said the very same thing about us. When
we’re competing, we’re going to compete, we’re going to win. They would never
think I love you. They would never even think I cared about you. Because how we
freaking competing and we’re wanting to win? It’s the same dang thing going on
now.”
Pressing on the clarification again, T-spoon repeated how this is competition and
that’s what they are doing for the jersey they wear.
She also added that after the competition, they are who they are. Surely, Angel
Reese too has multiple times spoken about her relationship with Caitlin Clark.
Definitely, when competing in the WNBA, the players are going to ensure that
their name echoes through the sport for their contributions on the court.