LSU W Basketball

Angel Reese has climbed to the top of On3's NIL valuations for women's college basketball in the wake of LSU's national championship victory over Iowa.

Reese's valuation rose to $1.3 million, putting her ahead of Haley ($930,000) and Hanna Cavinder ($924,000). Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark ($830,000) is fourth on the list.

LSU's Angel Reese now has an On3 NIL Valuation of $1.3M🤯

She has gained over 2 million followers across her social media platforms since the beginning of March Madness📈

Reese is now the highest projected earner in all of Women's College Basketball💰https://t.co/GE4vYepSy5 pic.twitter.com/pl0wO5OJWv

— On3 (@On3sports) April 11, 2023

The sophomore forward capped off an impressive year by winning the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player Award. She averaged 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds across March Madness and was the tone-setter in the title game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and one block.

Reese also provided the defining image of the tournament when she taunted Clark and pointed to her ring finger in the waning moments of the Tigers' triumph.

ANGEL REESE HIT CAITLIN CLARK WITH THE "YOU CAN'T SEE ME" 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zj3mqIzkk9

— ESPN (@espn) April 2, 2023

"All year, I was critiqued for who I was," she told reporters after the game. "I don't fit the narrative. I don't fit the box that y'all want me to be in. I'm too hood. I'm too ghetto. Y'all told me that all year. When other people do it, and y'all don't say nothing.

"So this is for the girls that look like me. For those that want to speak up for what they believe in. It's unapologetically you. And that's what I [did] before tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter is going to go into a rage every time."

Reese's exploits on the court are more than enough to make her one of the biggest names in women's basketball. Her charisma and authenticity make her a marketing team's dream. She shouldn't have any trouble collecting endorsements over the remainder of her run at LSU and beyond that when she makes the jump to the pros.

Angel Reese has gotten the Saturday Night Live treatment.

The LSU star was parodied during the latest edition of the sketch show during an edition of "Weekend Update":

LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese has a message for the White House and her haters pic.twitter.com/kKTTCmtt4l

— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 9, 2023

Reese rose to prominence over the Tigers' run to a national championship and made national headlines when she taunted Iowa's Caitlin Clark in the waning seconds of LSU's victory over the Hawkeyes.

Unapologetic about her actions, Reese clapped back at her critics on social media and even briefly clashed with First Lady Jill Biden, who suggested both LSU and Iowa could visit the White House. Reese called the suggestion a "joke" before saying she would have the team visit former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

"I mean, you felt like they should've came because of sportsmanship, right?" Reese said. "They can have that spotlight. We'll go to the Obamas. We'll see Michelle. We'll see Barack."

The White House swiftly walked back Jill Biden's comments, and Reese later said she would attend the event with her team.

LSU superstar forward Angel Reese confirmed on SportsCenter she will join the Lady Tigers in accepting an invitation to the White House despite previously expressing her disappointment that First Lady Jill Biden wanted to invite runner-up Iowa as well.

"I'm a team player, I'm gonna do what's best for the team." @Reese10Angel confirms she'll join LSU at the White House.

(via @RandyScottESPN) pic.twitter.com/aY89aL6VS2

— ESPN (@espn) April 7, 2023

When asked what the reaction in the LSU locker room was to Biden's comments, Reese replied:

"At the beginning we were hurt. It was emotional for us. Because we know hard we worked all year for everything. And just being able to see that, that hurt us in the moment. But just going back on it, you don't get that experience [of going to the White House] ever. So being able to go back, and I know my team probably wants to go for sure, and my coaches are supportive of that. So I'm going to do what's best for the team, and if they would like to go we decide that we're going to go, then we're going to go."

Jill Biden made her remarks during a speaking engagement at the Colorado state capital in Denver the day after LSU's victory.

"I know we'll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come," she said. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game."

Reese gave her opinion on the matter.

https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel/status/1643024890813874179

Iowa ultimately will not be visiting the White House. President Joe Biden has since clarified that LSU and men's champion UConn will be making appearances.

Press Secretary Vanessa Valdivia issued a clarification on Jill Biden's comments on Tuesday:

Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.

— Vanessa Valdivia Archived (@vvaldivia46) April 4, 2023

Reese later said on the I Am Athlete podcast that she would not accept an apology for Jill Biden's comments and appeared to suggest she wouldn't attend the White House:

“We’ll go to the Obama’s. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”⁰⁰LSU Women’s Basketball star Angel Reese doesn’t accept First Lady Jill Biden’s apology 😬

Subscribe for the full #PaperRoute convo 📰 → https://t.co/ENS0ZpXoKM pic.twitter.com/fQXeRHYP9i

— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) April 5, 2023

"I don't accept that—I'm not going to lie to you, I don't accept that apology because she said what she said," Reese said.

"You can't go back on certain things that you say. You felt like they should have came because of 'sportsmanship,' right? (Iowa) can have that spotlight; we'll go to the Obamas. We'll see Michelle. We'll see Barack."

LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette said Thursday that the team would be accepting the invite without providing specifics on whether individual players would attend, per USA Today's Cydney Henderson.

Reese, who transferred from Maryland before this season, averaged 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

She was named Most Outstanding Player for the tournament after posting double-doubles in all six games, averaging 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.

Angel Reese may not accept an invitation to the White House, but that won't stop the rest of the LSU women's basketball team from going if it receives a formal offer.

A school spokesperson told TMZ Sports the Tigers would "certainly" accept an invitation to meet President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.

Following LSU's 102-85 victory over Iowa in the national championship game Sunday, Jill Biden caused a stir when she told reporters at an event in Denver she wanted to have both teams come to Washington D.C.

"I know we'll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come," she said. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game."

Vanessa Valdivia, the first lady's press secretary, attempted to walk back Biden's comments:

Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.

— Vanessa Valdivia Archived (@vvaldivia46) April 4, 2023

Reese spoke out against the idea on multiple platforms, including calling it "A JOKE" on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel/status/1643024890813874179

The LSU star told the I AM ATHLETE podcast she didn't accept Biden's apology and said the team would "go to the Obama's."

“We’ll go to the Obama’s. We’ll see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”⁰⁰LSU Women’s Basketball star Angel Reese doesn’t accept First Lady Jill Biden’s apology 😬

Subscribe for the full #PaperRoute convo 📰 → https://t.co/ENS0ZpXoKM pic.twitter.com/fQXeRHYP9i

— I AM ATHLETE (@IAMATHLETEpod) April 5, 2023

Iowa's Caitlin Clark said on ESPN's Outside the Lines she would turn down an invitation to the White House if one were offered to the team: "I don't think runner-ups usually go to the White House."

President Biden did extend an invitation to the LSU women's team and Connecticut men's basketball championship team Tuesday.

LSU's victory over Iowa gave the women's basketball program its first-ever national championship. Reese, who averaged 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game in the tournament, was named the Most Outstanding Player.

LSU star and NCAA women's tournament Most Outstanding Player Angel Reese said there was no rift between her and Iowa's Caitlin Clark after Reese's trash-talking gestures in the national championship game went viral.

"No, there is no beef," she told Brandon Marshall and Ashley Nicole Moss on the Paper Route podcast (6:27 mark). "There is actually no beef."

Reese gave Clark both the "you can't see me" gesture and pointed to her finger while looking at the Iowa star, an indication of where a championship ring would go, late in the national championship game.

Angel Reese just hit Caitlin Clark with the "you can't see me" 😳 pic.twitter.com/POazWMwAbM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2023

ANGEL REESE HIT CAITLIN CLARK WITH THE "YOU CAN'T SEE ME" 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zj3mqIzkk9

— ESPN (@espn) April 2, 2023

She also told ESPN she felt Clark had disrespected her teammate, Alexis Morris, and the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four.

"Caitlin Clark is a hell of a player for sure, but I don't take disrespect lightly and she disrespected Alexis," Reese told ESPN. "South Carolina, they still my SEC girls too. You're not gonna disrespect them either. I wanted to pick her pocket. But I had a moment at the end of the game... I was just in my bag, in my moment."

"I don't take disrespect lightly."

Angel Reese on her celebration in front of Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/IxrdUz1ae6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023

Her gestures ignited a firestorm on social media between those who felt that Reese's actions were unsportsmanlike and those who pointed out that Clark had directed similar gestures toward opponents in previous games and that a racist double standard was being applied to Reese.

And Clark was fine with the whole thing, as she told ESPN's Jeremy Schapp on Tuesday's Between the Lines (h/t Shea Dixon of On3):

"I don't think Angel should be criticized at all. No matter which way it goes, she should never be criticized for what she did. I'm just one that competes and she competed. I think everybody knew there was going to be a little trash talking the entire tournament. It's not just me and Angel. So I don't think she should be criticized, like I said. LSU deserves it. They played so well. Like I said, I'm a big fan of hers."

Trash talk has long been deeply ingrained in sports, especially at the highest levels, where competitors seek even the smallest of edges. While the debate rages on across the Internet, neither Reese nor Clark is taking the trash talk all that seriously or extending it off the court.

First lady Jill Biden may have walked back her comments that she wanted to invite both the national champion LSU Lady Tigers and runner-up Iowa Hawkeyes to the White House, but the situation still doesn't sit well with LSU star Angel Reese.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, I don't accept the apology because of, you said what you said. ... I said what I said. And like, you can't go back on certain things that you say," Reese said on the Paper Route podcast. "I mean, you like felt like they should've came because of sportsmanship, right? They can have that spotlight. We'll go to the Obamas, we'll see Michelle, we'll see Barack."

Biden was in attendance to watch LSU's 102-85 victory over Iowa on Sunday. While speaking at the Colorado state Capitol in Denver on Monday, she suggested that she would encourage President Biden to also invite the Hawkeyes to the White House, which is a perk usually reserved only for the national champions.

"I know we'll have the champions come to the White House; we always do. So, we hope LSU will come," Biden said. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come too, because they played such a good game."

The first lady's press secretary clarified on Twitter that only LSU would be invited. President Biden also tweeted a congratulatory message to the Lady Tigers with no mention of Iowa.

However, the damage had already been done. When asked directly if she would visit the White House, Reese said, "We're gonna see. I don't know."

Reese further explained that she believes that the first lady's suggestion is yet another dichotomy presented amid the continued discourse stemming from her trash talk toward Iowa star Caitlin Clark during the closing seconds of Sunday's win.

"I just know that if the roles were reversed, it wouldn't be the same. If we were to lose, we would not be getting invited to the White House," Reese said. "I remember she made a comment about [how] both teams should be invited because of sportsmanship. And I'm like, 'Are you saying that because of what I did?' Stuff like that, it bothers me because you are a woman at the end of the day. White, Black, it doesn't matter, you're a woman, you're supposed to be standing behind us before anything."

First Lady Jill Biden said on Monday that she's hoping Caitlin Clark and the Iowa women's basketball team are invited alongside national champions LSU when they visit the White House.

"I know we'll have the champions come to the White House, we always do. So, we hope LSU will come," she said, per the Associated Press. "But, you know, I'm going to tell Joe I think Iowa should come, too, because they played such a good game."

LSU star and the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Angel Reese, didn't share that sentiment with Biden:

https://twitter.com/Reese10Angel/status/1643024890813874179

Reese's response isn't surprising.

While champions across various sports are almost always invited to visit the White House, the losing team in the championship game is never afforded that honor. It would seemingly be an unprecedented move and would call into question why the Iowa women would be the first runners-up to earn an invite.

https://twitter.com/A_G_Haubner/status/1643024040360308736

https://twitter.com/JamilahLemieux/status/1643027195764543488

That's not how this works-> Jill Biden wants LSU and Iowa at White House https://t.co/ZeckK0jmRp

— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 3, 2023

Reese questioned Clark's actions during the tournament and pointed out the media's treatment of herself and Clark.

"Caitlin Clark is a hell of a player for sure, but I don't take disrespect lightly and she disrespected Alexis [Morris]," Reese told ESPN. "South Carolina, they still my SEC girls too. You're not gonna disrespect them either. I wanted to pick her pocket. But I had a moment at the end of the game... I was just in my bag, in my moment."

"I don't fit in the box that you all want me to be in. I'm too hood, I'm too ghetto. You told me that all year. But when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing," she later told reporters about her gestures. "So this is for the girls that look like me, that want to speak up on what they believe in. It's unapologetically you. It was bigger than me tonight."

"I don't take disrespect lightly."

Angel Reese on her celebration in front of Caitlin Clark. pic.twitter.com/IxrdUz1ae6

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023

She also turned Clark's use of John Cena's "you can't see me" gesture during Iowa's Elite Eight win over Louisville against her in the title game.

Angel Reese just hit Caitlin Clark with the "you can't see me" 😳 pic.twitter.com/POazWMwAbM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2023

ANGEL REESE HIT CAITLIN CLARK WITH THE "YOU CAN'T SEE ME" 👀 pic.twitter.com/Zj3mqIzkk9

— ESPN (@espn) April 2, 2023

Reese, a sophomore, earned MOP honors after averaging 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game in the tourney, which included a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in the championship game. It was her 34th double-double of the season, setting an NCAA record.

As for Biden—who was in attendance at the national championship game—she added that LSU's 102-85 win and the excitement of the game itself was a testament to how far women's sports have come in general across the United States.

"It was so exciting, wasn't it?" she said. "It was such a great game. I'm old enough that I remember when we got Title IX. We fought so hard, right? We fought so hard. And look at where women's sports have come today."

A lot of people watched the LSU Tigers defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes in the national championship of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.

Millions of people, in fact.

According to ESPN, the game averaged 9.9 million viewers and peaked at 12.6 million, which represented a 103 percent year-over-year growth and made it the most-watched NCAA women's basketball game in history:

𝟗.𝟗 𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒 🤯 Record-breaking #NationalChampionship thriller between @LSUwbkb & @IowaWBB makes TV history:

🏆 Most-viewed #NCAAWBB game on record
🏆 Up 103% YOY
🏆 Peaked at 12.6M
🏆 Most-viewed college event ever on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/UZLVNuP3Sf

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) April 3, 2023

Sports Media Watch noted it outdrew all of last year's MLB playoff games besides the World Series, matched or outdrew all of last year's NBA playoff games besides the Finals, averaged higher ratings than every NHL game since the 1972 Stanley Cup Final and averaged higher ratings than every NASCAR race since the 2017 Daytona 500.

All those viewers saw LSU win its first basketball national championship—men's or women's—in program history.

Angel Reese made the most headlines with her 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block, but it took a balanced effort to come away with the 102-85 win. Jasmine Carson (22 points), Alexis Morris (21 points and nine assists) and LaDazhia Williams (20 points, five rebounds and three steals) were also excellent.

That helped LSU counter the 30 points and eight assists from Iowa star Caitlin Clark, who was excellent throughout the tournament but didn't have the firepower to overcome a strong Tigers team.

Millions of people can attest to that.

The hard part is over for the LSU Tigers women's basketball team.

Now it's time to party.

Patrick Magee of NOLA.com noted that LSU announced it will host a parade through campus for the national champions on Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m. local time (Central Time). While the route has not yet been finalized, it will lead into a celebration inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center at 7 p.m.

The parade will be live-streamed on NOLA.com, and fans can check local listings for television information.

The Tigers defeated Iowa 102-85 in Sunday's national title game, earning the SEC school its first national championship in men's or women's basketball. Legends such as Shaquille O'Neal and Pete Maravich were never able to cut down the nets as collegiate champions, but Angel Reese and Co. were after Sunday's efforts.

Reese stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block before letting Caitlin Clark and the world know she earned her national title ring:

This is cold by Angel Reese 😬 https://t.co/vZHOZTQHRh

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 2, 2023

It was far from a one-person effort, as Jasmine Carson poured in a team-high 22 points as a spark off the bench with red-hot shooting from beyond the arc. Alexis Morris scored and facilitated on her way to 21 points and nine assists, while LaDazhia Williams posted 20 points, five rebounds and three steals in a strong effort.

Clark did what she could on the other side after an incredible tournament run and finished with 30 points and eight assists, but Iowa's defense had no answers to LSU's balanced attack.

"It's no one-man show around here," Reese said in her postgame interview in reference to that team effort.

That team effort earned the Tigers a national championship, and now the students get to celebrate with them on Wednesday.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James supported LSU forward Angel Reese on Twitter after she fired back at haters following her team's 102-85 win over Iowa in the NCAA Division I women's basketball championship game Sunday.

FACTS!!!! Love to see it https://t.co/YrrlIyg90S

— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 3, 2023

The pointed Twitter criticism directed at Reese began after she had a championship ring gesture ready for Iowa superstar guard Caitlin Clark with LSU en route to the title.

She also did the "you can't see me" move, popularized by actor/WWE superstar John Cena and emulated by Clark during the Elite Eight.

ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK 😳 pic.twitter.com/2NY0CEzwJ3

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 2, 2023

Reese produced multiple messages for the critics afterward as well as remarks regarding a dedication to her championship run, which ended with six double-doubles and the Most Outstanding Player award.

"I'm too hood, I'm too ghetto. Y'all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y'all don't say nothing. So this is for the girls that look like me."

Angel Reese is unapologetically her 👏 @Reese10Angel pic.twitter.com/9cuCWwayhA

— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) April 2, 2023

and no I’M NOT KEEPING IT CUTE.😘

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2023

IDC BOUT NUN😭🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/KR3s9Mvlal

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) April 3, 2023

Reese received plenty of support postgame, however, outside James, with some examples below.

So, the 20yo collegiate athlete is not just an “idiot” but a “f@$&%^% idiot”?

Lord, let me find grace.

Even if you feel her actions are classless—which can be your opinion—is this the best way to teach Angel Reese otherwise? Nobody is perfect, just something to think about. GN. https://t.co/Qu1kPWEXpS

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 3, 2023

People hating on Angel Reese or Caitlin Clark. Stop.

Unapologetically confident young women should be celebrated NOT hated.
Get used to it.

— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) April 2, 2023

If you didn’t say it was classless when Caitlin Clark did it to her opponents then don’t say it about Angel Reese either. https://t.co/5S8P6mvhhx

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 2, 2023

Zero problem with Angel Reese, Caitlin Clarke or anyone as good as they are talking junk, because they back it up on the court. Some of y'all always have exceptions to your "rules" about "sportsmanship."

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) April 2, 2023

How Angel Reese is being vilified by many highlights exactly what @dawnstaley was talking about.

— Jalen Rose (@JalenRose) April 2, 2023

Ultimately, what happened shouldn't overshadow the fact that Reese is a double-double machine who has emerged as a national champion after posting 21.3 points and 15.2 rebounds in the NCAA tournament, leading LSU to its first national title in the process.