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LSU basketball star Angel Reese opened up about being attacked and threatened in an emotional interview following her team's Elite Eight loss.
On Monday (April 1), the Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball team defeated the LSU Tigers 94-87, knocking them out of the NCAA tournament.
Reese got emotional as she spoke about the attacks and death threats she's received since the Tigers won the national championship last season.
“I've been through so much,” Reese said during Monday's post-game interview. “I've seen so much. 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 strong every single time.”
The college basketball star said she tries to stay strong for her teammates but admitted it's difficult.
“All this has happened since I won the national championship,” Reese said. “And it sucks, but I still wouldn't change anything, and I would still sit here and say I'm unapologetically me. I'm going to always leave that mark and be who I am and stand on that.”
Fellow LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson jumped to Reese's defense, speaking on her character.
“Man, let me tell you something. Everybody can have their opinion on Angel Reese, but y'all don't know her,” Johnson said during the post-game interview. “I know the real Angel Reese, and the person I see every day is a strong person, is a caring, loving person. But the crown she wears is heavy.”
Teammate Hailey Van Lith also chimed in to defend Reese.
“I think Angel is one of the toughest people I've been around,” she said. “People speak hate into her life. I've never seen people wish bad 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 change that. That's the key to life right there. Y'all do not get to her. Let me say it again. Y'all do not get to Angel Reese. So you might want to throw the towel in because you're wasting your energy.”
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