Angel Reese Shares Sassy Clap Back Following Controversy Surrounding Her Recent Break From Basketball

The LSU star athlete and NCAA champion recently returned to the court after two weeks off.
Angel Reese

Angel Reese.


Angel Reese finally took to social media to address the recent controversy surrounding her time off from basketball. The LSU athlete said so much in so few words in a perfectly sassy Instagram caption—and we’re applauding the 2023 SI Swimsuit model for not letting the haters get to her.

The 21-year-old, who was benched on Nov. 14, played her first game in two weeks on Thursday night. Reese started and scored 19 points and nine rebounds throughout the game, helping her team reach a 82-64 victory against Virginia Tech. However, neither coach Kim Mulkey nor Reese have commented why the athlete took time off from the team.

“just make sure that apology is as loud as the disrespect. 😘,” the Maryland native captioned a carousel of on-court Instagram photos she shared with her 2.6 million followers on Dec. 1.

Angel Reese

Angel Reese.

“Period,” Te’a Cooper commented.

“You’re human, I just wish everybody else knew that,” Darius Williams added

“Tell em Dey gotta stand on it 🤣😤,” her boyfriend and Florida State Seminoles basketball player Cam’Ron Fletcher chimed.

“So many of us are out here praying for, inspired by and rooting for you!!!! You got this—Like you, we live and learn,” one fan gushed. “You continue to stay grounded and rooted in your truth! Many judge first their humbling experiences!! Go ahead and do greater things!! Love, admiration and respect!”

Critics have speculated that Reese may have missed four consecutive games due to attitude-related concerns, while others suggested she needed to take break from playing to bring her grades up.

“My mental health is the most important thing before anything, and I’m going to make sure I’m O.K. before anything because I don’t want to cause anything, harm or any cancer in the locker room,” Reese told ESPN. “I’m back and I’m happy and I’m here and I’m moving forward and I’m going to help take this team as far as I can.”

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.