NEW ORLEANS — After LSU's tough loss against Caitlin Clark and Iowa, the team's top players talked about this year's season as they overcame obstacles and supported each other along the way. Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith sat down to reflect on their last game.
"We've seen everything this year," Angel Reese said following Monday night's 94-87 loss. "We have been through so much adversity, so I'm more than proud of this team."
The highly-anticipated game was one for the books Reese said as it helped to increase viewership in women's basketball. But it was an emotional roller coaster as well.
Johnson was asked about Reese's leadership on the team, both on and off the court. Before Johnson answered the question she said, "Everybody could have [their] opinion on Angel Reese, but y'all don't know her. Y'all don't know Angel Reese. I know Angel Reese. I know the real Angel Reese."
Reese became emotional and tears came down her face as Johnson spoke about how strong, loving and caring Reese is every day.
"The crown she wears is heavy bro," said Johnson. "She's the type of teammate that's [gonna] make you believe in yourself."
Johnson said Reese gave her the confidence to be a better player, "that's what great players do" and despite how the media ridicules Reese, she still shows up. "This my sister right here and I'm so proud of her."
During the Iowa game, Reese fouled out and walked over to the sidelines to Johnson where they put their arms around each other. In that moment, Reese said Johnson does a great job when she's down and not having her best game, and having a teammate who's only a sophomore step up and lead the team.
"Through everything, she's led the team throughout the whole year, so we've had that relationship and being able to talk to her in that moment was great."
Van Lith backed Johnson and said Angel is one of the toughest people she's been around. Lith spoke about the negative comments and backlash that Reese faces. "She comes to practice every day, she lives her life every day. She lives how she wants to live and she [doesn't] let nobody change that."
Sitting by her side, Johnson and Van Lith made it clear that Reese is hard to crack and continues to push through anything that comes her way.
"I don't really get to stand up for myself. I have great teammates, I have a great support system. I got my hometown, I got my family that stands up for me," Reese said. "I don't really get to speak out on things just because I try to ignore and I just try to stand strong. I've been through so much, 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."
Reese talked about the battle playing against Caitlin Clark even after she rolled her ankle on one of the cameras in the second quarter.
"I'm tough so I tried to play through it of course and this is something that has been going on for a lil while now, but I played through it and I'm not gonna make that an excuse for the rest of my play for the game," she said.
Flau’jae Johnson chimed in on the team's "small mistakes" as they were outscored in the third quarter. Johnson also mentioned needing more experience and being better as a team, while Van Lith said: "The best thing about rivalries is it [doesn't] end, so LSU and Iowa will play each other again and we'll have another opportunity."
Reese said she's still a human and hasn't had peace since she and LSU won the national championship last year. "It sucks but I still wouldn't change anything. And I would still sit here and say 'I'm unapologetically me."
Reese said she hopes she inspires the little girls who look up to her.
"Keep being who you are, keep waking up every day, keep being motivated."
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