LSU forward Angel Reese (10) looks to make a move in the post against Hawaii forward Nnenna Orji (14) in the first period of their NCAA tournament first-round game on Friday, March 17, 2023 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
It took a trip to the Elite Eight for someone to ask LSU All-American Angel Reese why she wears a legging on her left side in every game.
A couple of reasons, Reese said here Saturday, but the biggest one is a scar on her leg from an operation.
“I had surgery two years ago on my shin. I have a rod in my leg.”
Reese said at a news conference before LSU’s NCAA Greenville 2 regional final Sunday against Miami.
“Many people don’t know that.
“I cover the scar for one, then my two players that I really admire, Te’a Cooper and A’ja Wilson, they also wear it, too.
So it’s swag. But I’ve used it to cover my scar.”
Cooper played for LSU coach Kim Mulkey at Baylor during the 2019-20 season.
Wilson played at South Carolina and is now with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Angel recently defended her controversial gesture, calling out a double standard
In the final seconds of the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball national championship game, Angel approached Caitlin Clark and moved her open hand in front of her face — a gesture popularized by WWE star John Cena to mean “you can’t see me.”
Although the Iowa point guard made the exact same gesture to another player earlier in the tournament, Angel’s actions have sparked much debate on social media.
Some have criticized Angel, while others have defended her and highlighted how there was no public outrage in response to Caitlin’s gesture.
In a post-game press conference, Angel spoke about the difference in reaction she received compared to Caitlin: “All year, I was critiqued for who I was. 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. But when other people do it, and y’all don’t say nothing,” she said via CNN.
“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,” Angel continued. “And that’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter is going to go into a rage every time.”
MN DOCTOR THANKS IOWA’S CAITLIN CLARK FOR HELPING HIM CONNECT WITH HIS YOUNG DAUGHTER
Caitlin Clark effect: MN man thanks basketball star.
The Caitlin Clark effect: A Minnesota doctor, who is a father of two daughters, wrote a thank you note to the basketball star. FOX 9’s Kelly O’Connell has the story.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Minnesota doctor, who is a father of two daughters, wrote a thank you note to basketball star Caitlin Clark, thanking her for helping him be a better dad.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is considered to be one of the greatest college basketball players in history. She is the all-time leading scorer in the NCAA. She and the Iowa Hawkeyes are in town for the Women’s Big Ten Tournament.
Before she hits the court on Friday, one local doctor, and father of two daughters, wrote a “Thank You” note to the basketball player.
“Dear Caitlin Clark,
“If you read this, I want to say thank you.
“Thank you for being an electrifying, transcendent athlete who is actively changing the world of sport. But mostly, thank you for helping me be a better dad,” reads Dr. Asitha Jayawardena, a pediatric ear, nose and throat surgeon at Children’s Minnesota.
Jayawardena’s op-ed in the Star Tribune went viral almost the moment it hit the website. He says he’s heard from dads and daughters all over the country, saying they too have connected over Clark.
Dr. Jayawardena calls Clark his “cheat code” when it comes to connecting with his oldest daughter. Not only have they gone to games together, but they will watch her play on TV, and it’s something they both love to do together.
Father thanks Caitlin Clark for inspiring daughter
A father is thanking Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark for helping him grow a closer bond with his daughter.
The family plans to go see Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes play Friday in the tournament, as they take on either Penn State or Wisconsin.
Clark has said this will be her final season at Iowa, as she plans to enter the 2024 WNBA draft. She is expected to be the No. 1 pick.