Shaquille OâNeal has come to the defense of fellow LSU forward Angel Reese after facing criticism for taunting Iowaâs Caitlin Clark in the waning moments of the Tigersâ 102-85 victory over the Hawkeyes in the Womenâs National Championship game Sunday.
Reese, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2023 NCAA Womenâs Championship, tried to get the attention of Clark, and use the âYou Canât See Meâ gesture she has been seen using throughout the tournament. The display was harshly criticized by some, including white public commentators Keith Olbermann and Dave Portnoy calling the 20-year-old a âfucking idiotâ and âclassless piece of shit.â
Shaq took to Twitter to respond to their cruel remarks, writing âso is your motherâ to Barstool Sports founder Portnoy and âshut your dumb ass up leave Angel Reese aloneâ to the Countdown with Keith Olbermann host.
Reese has since acknowledged the show of support from âUncle Shaq,â who also attended LSU.
âYeah my uncle Shaq donât play bout me. Period,â she wrote.
Reese talked about the moment during her post-game press conference, hinting at how fans become suspiciously silent when certain people taunt an opponent, as opposed to others. âWhen other people do it, yâall donât say nothing,â she explained. âSo this is for the girls that look like me, thatâs gonna speak on for what they believe in. Itâs unapologetically you. And thatâs what I did it for tonight.â
She also had a hilarious response to First Lady Jill Bidenâs wish to invite both LSU and Iowa to the White House.