Claressa Shields Under Fire After Implying Angel Reese Didn't Deserve Her BET Sportswoman Of The Year Award
Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields was nominated for this year's BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, alongside other superstar athletes, including Sha'Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, A'ja Wilson, Dawn Staley, Juju Watkins, and, of course, the WNBA star Angel Reese.
However, after Reese, whose impressive college career at LSU has carried over into her WNBA success with the Chicago Sky, won the BET honor for the third consecutive year, Shields voiced her confusion and frustration on social media.
Advertisement
After her posts began making waves, however, sports watchers and other online commentators quickly pushed back against her claims, defending Angel Reese and highlighting her many accomplishments in the process.
An Olympic Gold Medalist Questioned How Angel Reese Won BET's Sportswoman Of The Year Award Over Her
On X, Shields, a boxing world champion, was quick to voice her confusion over BET awarding the Sportswoman of the Year honor to Reese instead of her.
"Still don't know how I didn't win the Sportswoman of the Year for the [BET Awards]," the athlete wrote on her profile before adding, "but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees. I just thought accolades mattered."
Fans Fire Back At Shields, Defending Angel Reese's BET Win
Fans were quick to fire back at Shields with their thoughts on her comments about Reese, with one saying, "Girl, don't get on her complaining. You're talented; don't let that get overshadowed."
Advertisement
Another wrote, "Sportsmanship applies outside the ring. Queen-up."
Other online users pointed out that the award's criteria often extend beyond pure accolades and also recognize an athlete's cultural impact in and out of their sport.
"This screams loser," someone commented. "You weren't even 2nd, 3rd, 4th OR 5th runner up. YOU wouldn't have won, [and] there's ladies on the nominee list that have more accolades than you."
Shields Offers Clarification On Her Comments About Angel Reese, But Defends Her Position
After receiving backlash for her initial post, Shields offered a clarification, insisting she wasn't implying that Reese wasn't a skilled player.
Advertisement
"I'm saying I thought the person with 'THE MOST' accolades [and] accomplishments would win the Award. I'm team Angel Reese!" she added.
The heavyweight boxer's clarification sparked even more criticism, with users even listing Reese's recent accomplishments, prompting Shields to post another statement declaring she wasn't "joining in on any hate train" regarding Reese.
"I have mad respect for her and all the other female athletes that excel in their sport," she added. "As for my earlier comments, I am allowed to express my feelings. I was shocked I didn't win. ... It's ok to be a competitor."
Reese Breaks Her Silence On Winning SOTY For The Third Consecutive Year
On June 10, following the Chicago Sky's game against the New York Liberty, where Reese posted another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, the 6'3" power forward broke her silence on the controversy surrounding her monumental BET win.
Advertisement
"It's great," she said before acknowledging the commentators suggesting she wasn't worthy of the honor. "I just focus on basketball. I come into work every day and work. I don't complain, I don't care about anything else. I have bad days; I haven't been playing well at all."
Reese, whose shooting efficiency has been a point of criticism this year, only connecting on about 36% of her shots from inside the arc, continued, "I take accountability. I come in every day and try and be better than the last. I know my teammates trust me; I know they have my back."
"Everything else is everything else," she added. "I'm just here to come to work every day... and be able to enjoy my job."
Reese Set Another WNBA Record After Earning Her 30th Double-Double
Although the Sky lost to the Liberty by 19 in their most recent matchup, Reese did have something positive to celebrate after the game.
Advertisement
According to the WNBA, "Angel Reese [became] the fastest player in [the league's] history to reach 30 career double-doubles," securing that notch in only 42 games.
A week before that, the basketball player set another record after becoming the fastest player to reach 500+ points and 500+ rebounds in WNBA history, earning that accolade in 38 regular-season games, another strong argument for why she earned her third BET award.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
24 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Wimbledon 2025: Coco Gauff is just 21 but already thinking about what to do after tennis
LONDON (AP) — To be clear, Coco Gauff didn't bring up the word 'star' during a recent interview with The Associated Press; the reporter did. So as Gauff began to answer a question about balancing her life as a professional athlete with her off-court interests, she caught herself repeating that term. 'I definitely didn't know how it would look like,' she began with a smile, 'before I got to be, I guess, a star — feels weird to call myself that — but I definitely did want to expand outside of tennis. Always. Since I was young.' She still is young, by just about any measure, and she is a really good tennis player — Gauff owns the Grand Slam titles and No. 2 ranking to prove it as she heads into Wimbledon, which begins Monday — but the 21-year-old American is also more than that. Someone unafraid to express her opinions about societal issues. Someone who connects with fans via social media. Someone who is the highest-paid female athlete in any sport, topping $30 million last year, according to with less than a third of that from prize money and most via deals with companies such as UPS, New Balance, Rolex and Barilla. Someone who recently launched her own management firm. And someone who wants to succeed in the business world long after she no longer swings a racket on tour. 'It's definitely something that I want to start to step up for post-career. Kind of start building that process, which is why I wanted to do it early. Because I didn't want to feel like I was playing catch-up at the end of my career,' said Gauff, who will face Dayana Yastremska in the first round at the All England Club on Tuesday. 'On the business side of things, it doesn't come as natural as tennis feels. I'm still learning, and I have a lot to learn about,' Gauff said. 'I've debated different things and what paths I wanted to take when it came to just stimulating my brain outside of the court, because I always knew that once I finished high school that I needed to put my brain into something else.' In a campaign announced this week by UPS, which first partnered with Gauff in 2023 before she won that year's U.S. Open, she connects with business coach Emma Grede — known for working with Kim Kardashian on Skims, and with Khloe Kardashian on Good American — to offer mentoring to three small-business owners. 'Coco plays a key role in helping us connect with those younger Gen-Z business owners — emerging or younger entrepreneurs,' Betsy Wilson, VP of digital marketing and brand activation at UPS, said in a phone interview. 'Obviously, she's very relevant in social media and in culture, and working with Coco helps us really connect with that younger group.' While Grede helped the entrepreneurs, Gauff also got the opportunity to pick up tips. 'It's really cool to learn from someone like her,' Gauff said. 'Whenever I feel like I'm ready to make that leap, I can definitely reach out to her for advice and things like that. ... This will help me right now and definitely in the long term.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani's pitching return sees insane 71% ticket prices jump
The post Shohei Ohtani's pitching return sees insane 71% ticket prices jump appeared first on ClutchPoints. On a wild Sunday in Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers made waves by revealing Shohei Ohtani would make his return to the mound on Monday night. Advertisement Ohtani will make his first start since August 23, 2023 as a member of the Los Angeles Angels. It'll be the first time he takes the mound as a member of the Dodgers and ticket prices are reflecting that. The average ticket price for Monday's Dodgers game against the San Diego Padres is $192, up 71% since it was announced, according to ESPN's Field Yates. Yates also says, per TickPick, the Dodgers sold four-times more tickets to the game compared to before. Though the Dodgers say Ohtani is not yet built up to be a full starter, he can function now as a multi-inning opener and go from there. He has been recovering from UCL surgery, functioning as a full-time DH last year and so far this year. Ohtani has been building up without pitching in rehab games, continuing to bat in the Majors for the reigning World Series champions. He began facing live batters in late May as his ramp-up accelerated. Advertisement 'The live, simulated or whatever sort of ran its course,' manager Dave Roberts told the media on Sunday. 'He's ready to make his debut on the mound.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani remains one of the game's elite hitters Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Ohtani is coming off consecutive MVP campaigns, which included a 2024 season that was one of the best all-around seasons by a hitter ever. He became the only 50-50 player in baseball history, hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases, all while leading the league in runs scored, RBI, on-base percentage and OPS. He hasn't missed a beat in 2025. Ohtani hasn't been as active on the basepaths with only 11 steals, but he's leading the National League in home runs (25) while maintaining his league-leading status in runs scored and OPS. Advertisement Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Ohtani expressed excitement about going back to being a two-way player. 'I do feel like just being the two-way player I used to be is the norm,' he said. 'Last year was the abnormal year for me, and it's about getting back to what I used to do.' Related: The big change Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani declined before first 2025 pitching start Related: Dodgers' Blake Snell takes another step toward injury return
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Christian Pulisic Breaks Silence After USMNT Decision
Christian Pulisic Breaks Silence After USMNT Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Wednesday marked exactly one year until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Advertisement On Tuesday night, the United States Men's National Team suffered an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Switzerland in the send-off match before the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup — the final major tournament before the World Cup begins. USMNT captain Christian Pulisic watched the four-goal defeat from home. He opted to sit out the Gold Cup this summer so he could get extra rest after a long season for AC Milan, a decision that brought plenty of criticism his way. In his first public interview about his summer plans, Pulisic revealed that if he had his way, he would have been playing against Switzerland on Tuesday. United States Men's National Team forward Christian Pulisic (left) and USMNT head coach Mauricio Kamin-Oncea, Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images "I did want to be a part of at least the two friendlies," Pulisic said in an interview with former USMNT players Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies and Tony Meola on Thursday. "I did speak with the coaches and I asked. I wanted to be part of the team in whatever capacity I could. Advertisement "They said no," Pulisic revealed of head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his national team staff. "They said they only wanted one roster and that's coach's decision. I fully respect that. I didn't understand it, but it is what it is.' Pulisic, who has 32 goals and 18 assists in 76 appearances for the national team, emphasized that resting this summer was the best decision for him and the team in the long term, with an eye toward the 2026 World Cup on home soil. The 26-year-old spoke about several topics during the lengthy interview, including his response to the criticism about commitment from USMNT legend Landon Donovan, which Pulisic's dad called out on social media. "Some of these guys were my idols; I respect them so much as players," Pulisic admitted. "It's tough especially when privately the way they talk to me and want to show support and be your friend and everything, and then it goes and they say something slightly different publicly." Advertisement USMNT's first game of the Gold Cup is on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET against Trinidad and Tobago on Fox. The World Cup kicks off in 364 days. Related: Christian Pulisic's Girlfriend Sends Clear Message Amid USMNT Absence Related: Christian Pulisic Turns Heads with Reaction to Criticism Amid USMNT Absence This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
