Boxing world champion clarifies Angel Reese comments with 'hate' admission
Boxing star Claressa Shields has clarified her comments about Angel Reese after being snubbed for the BET Sportswoman of the Year award.
Earlier this month, Chicago Sky WNBA sensation Reese picked up the honour at the awards in Los Angeles, California - marking the third time she has picked up the coveted prize. At 23, Reese is widely regarded as one of the biggest names in women's basketball.
Shields was one of the other nominees for the prestigious award. And after being rebuffed of the award, the 30-year-old was far from impressed and took to social media to express her views. Taking to X - formerly known as Twitter - she posted: "Still don't know how I didn't win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees. I just thought accolades mattered."
She added: "Ain't nobody saying Angel Reese don't have accolades or she not good…. I'm saying I thought the person with 'THE MOST' accolades & accomplishments would win the Award. I'm team Angel Reese!" Last year, Shields won the WBC, and vacant WBF female heavyweight and WBO female light heavyweight titles with a stoppage win over Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Shields then followed it up with a win over Danielle Perkins to win the IBF, WBO and inaugural WBA female heavyweight titles.
She seemingly thought her recent accolades would be enough to pip Reese to the award. Shields received some backlash for her posts. However, the boxing superstar was quick to address her comments and express her adoration for Reese during an interview with Brandon Robinson. 'I'm not angry or salty or any of that,' she said. 'I was just shocked." She further clarified: 'I've won the Women's Sports Foundation Award for Sportswoman of the Year three times—more than any other woman. I think Serena Williams won it twice.
"I went to the ESPYs as the only female boxer to ever win Best Boxer. I have a Nickelodeon award. I mean, I have all these things that I've won. So I thought that would mean finally getting some recognition with BET.' It is evident the American has a lot of respect for Reese - despite clearly thinking she was more deserving of winning the aforementioned award.
'Anything that we do—good, bad—we say something, wear something; they're all down our throats," she continued. "Grown men, grown women constantly judging us, trolling us, trying to break our will and make us not be confident. And I think we both experience that. Being Black women, they attack us every single day. When I see her getting it and I go through it myself, I'm clapping for myself and clapping for her, because she just keeps going. I actually hate that it looks like I joined the Angel Reese hate train.'
She later added: "I hate that it actually looks like I joined the Angel Reese hate train. It's like no, listen, I'm with you. f*** them... I'm not allowed to be a competitor? That's what we are. We are female athletes. We are competitors... But I really do hate how they tried to pin us against each other. Listen, I'm an Angel Reese fan. I'm not a hater of her."
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