LSU women’s basketball stars Angel Reese and Flau’Jae Johnson support one another on and off the court.

After coming up short against Iowa and its superstar Caitlin Clark in the Elite Eight on April 1 with a final rating of 94-87, Reese took a have a look at just how difficult this season has been.

Last 12 months, the Maryland resident helped her team win the NCAA title, which drew each praise and criticism for the 21-year-old. At a press conference after the loss, she candidly revealed to reporters that being in the national highlight had taken a toll on her. “I’ve been through so much. I’ve seen so much. I have been attacked so many times. Death threats. I have been sexualized. “I was threatened,” she said through a sniffle.

“I’ve been in a lot of situations and I’ve been strong every time, and I just try to be strong for my teammates because I don’t want them to see me and not want to be there for them,” Reese continued.

Angel Reese defended by teammate Flau’Jae Johnson after heavy criticism and death threats since winning the 2023 NCAA championship. (Photo: @angelreese10/Instagram)

She added: “I’m still human like all this happened since I won the national championship, and sooner or later I said I have never been completely happy since then and it sucks, but I still would not change. I would not change a thing, and yet I’d still be sitting here saying, as if I wasn’t apologizing: I’ll at all times leave a mark, I can be who I’m and I’ll persist with it. I hope that little girls will look as much as me and that I’ll give them some inspiration.

Jason Sudeikis is trolling LSU.

Damn LSU..pic.twitter.com/B3tz0nlmFX

— Lebang Moloi (@lebang_moloi) April 2, 2024

Before the matchup on March 30, an article in the Los Angeles Times titled “Commentary: UCLA-LSU is America’s sweetheart vs. its basketball villains” sparked controversy from college sports fans and beyond, who criticized columnist Ben Bolch for the racist overtones of naming the team LSU “dirty rookies” and using other offensive rhetoric. Johnson is one among those that admires Reese and spoke passionately to the media, defending her teammate and even referencing the editorial in query.

In the face of backlash, the column was updated and Bolch issued a public apology. In part, he wrote: “I even have tried to properly express my opinion about one team’s attitude, using alliteration, while not understanding the deeply offensive connotations or associations. I also used metaphors that weren’t appropriate. Our society has needed to take care of so many layers of misogyny, racism and negativity that I now understand why the words I used were fallacious.”

“Everyone may have an opinion about Angel Reese, but not everyone knows her. As if you didn’t know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese. I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person. She is a caring, loving person. Bruh, the crown he wears is heavy, brother,” the Tigers guard explained.

Her peer was criticized for her competitive play, mincing her words on the court and taunting her competitors with the controversial “you can’t see me” hand wave she made while battling Clark during last 12 months’s tournament.

LONG LATE APOLOGIZATION: pic.twitter.com/lgZkCt21Ft

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) April 1, 2024

The same hand gesture was used as a snub by Iowa fans like “Ted Lasso” actor Jason Sudeikis during the heated rematch. Many of Reese’s supporters called his actions “lame.”

However, critics didn’t stop Johnson from continuing to praise the 2023 SEC Player of the Year, saying, “He’s the type of teammate that will make you believe in yourself. The leap I made from freshman to sophomore year, Angel gave me the confidence to become a dog. I play next to the dog every day.”

Reese, who sat next to Johnson, wiped tears from her face as her friend continued to attack critics. “You know, to see the media ridicule her, we have been through our problems, but that is what it’s like with my sister here. And I’m very pleased with her. Like the media, y’all wish to twist and call him a villain and all that, y’all do not know Angel, bro. And I’m just completely happy that I can play along with her. I’m in her presence; her energy is different. Like it just made me a greater player. It makes me a greater player and that is what great players do.

“Young Queens support Young Queens. I love watching it!” read one among many responses to the show of camaraderie. On X, one fan commented“There is real sisterhood here.”

At this time, Reese has not yet confirmed her plans to enter the 2024 WNBA draft. However, LSU fans have already began preparing for Johnson to grow to be her successor as team leader.