Angel Reese has firmly responded to comments from boxing champion Claressa Shields following Reese’s third consecutive win of the BET Sportswoman of the Year award.
After securing the accolade earlier this week, Reese faced questions about her performance on the court. She told reporters, “It’s great. Obviously, this is my third one. I think it really meant something to people because it’s me.”
Reese emphasized that her focus remains basketball, even amid intense scrutiny. “I don’t complain, I don’t care about anything else. I’m just here to go to work every day and go home,” she said.
She pressed that accountability is key to her approach. “I haven’t been playing well at all, and I could mope or point fingers, but it’s been me. I take accountability, try to be better than the last day,” she added.
Teammate Ariel Atkins speaks up
Reese’s teammate Ariel Atkins publicly defended her. At a press conference, Atkins didn’t hold back. “Her crown is heavy,” she said. “This is a 23‑year‑old kid and the amount of crap that she gets on a day‑to‑day and she still shows up.” She called unrelated criticism “irrelevant,” adding: “She knows who she is! And we ain’t gonna break her down for that.” Reese later showed gratitude, commenting on social media: “Love my Vet man”
Claressa Shields speaks out
Boxing legend Claressa Shields also weighed in following Reese’s win at the June 9 BET Awards. Early comments on X revealed Shields’ shock: “Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year … I just thought accolades mattered”
Shields clarified she respected Reese. “Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades … I thought the person with ‘THE MOST’ accolades & accomplishments would win,” she explained. Shields pointed out, “I’m team Angel Reese!” and affirmed she’s not joining “any hate train”
Voting vs. accolades
Shields also responded to a rumor suggesting rapper Remy Ma influenced the outcome. She denied the claim, calling the BET selection “a popularity contest,” not driven by external pressure..
She stressed she “was under the impression the category was graded on accolades of your sport,” not popularity. “It’s ok to be a competitor,” she concluded.