College basketball player Angel Reese became the goal of haters on social media after she refused to take part in a brawl at Louisiana State University and the University of South Carolina during the championship game of the 2024 Women’s Tournament on Sunday, March 10.

Emotions were high and 6 players were ejected from the game because of this of the fight. Fans felt that she probably must have been considered one of the girls involved in the brawl, especially since her teammate, Flau’jae Johnson, was at the center of the brawl.

Flau’jae had the ball in the fourth quarter, but it surely was stolen by South Carolina defender MiLaysia Fulwiley. In response to the stripping, the 20-year-old Georgia resident grabbed Fulwiley to slow her down during what appeared to be a runaway, committing a foul.

As a result, the rapper-turned-athlete was sent to the bench, but not before punching South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, a woman similar in height to Johnson.

South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso noticed the collision and intervened, pushing Johnson to the ground.

LSU and South Carolina players got right into a fight in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM

— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024

An explosion erupted in the arena as students from either side ran onto the court to support or defend their friend. Among them was Flau’jae’s brother, Trayron Lenorris Milton, who, despite not being a student, jumped over the barrier and over the scorer’s table to reach the field and protect his sister.

The brother was later arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, in addition to third-degree assault and battery. According to to search for Greenville County inmates. Milton was granted a money bond of $1,087.50.

Following the altercation, Cardoso was faraway from the game. Additionally, five other players were sent off for leaving the bench. Those players included South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Sakima Walker, in addition to LSU’s Aalyah Del Rosario and Janae Kent.

The headline-making brawl made its way onto social media, with people asking why Reese didn’t rush to the court to defend Flau’jae during the brawl. On Monday, March 11, a day later, the ballerina said she decided not to join due to her status.

“As a person in my STATUS, sometimes you have to walk away from certain situations,” the LSU star wrote on Twitter.

Adding: “Remember the earlier game where I sprained my ankle AGAIN and was already on the bench. I ALWAYS ride for myself. I’m very proud of this team and very excited for March. #geauxtigers.”

As an individual in my STATUS, sometimes you could have to walk away from certain situations. Remember the earlier game where I sprained my ankle AGAIN and was already going to the bench. I ALWAYS ride for myself. I’m very pleased with this team and really excited for March. #geauxtigers 💜💛

— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) March 11, 2024

One person wrote under her post: “We are not in business.”

Other he said“Bruh, now we are pulling our hair on the court, now you want to say you are humble by leaving a fight that started with you.”

In a separate video, Reese will be seen on camera pulling the hair of one other South Carolina player during a game.

Let’s take a better look. pic.twitter.com/Sb4xWuhT2Y

— GamecockRetweeter (@bradsales312) March 10, 2024

Reese became a public figure in the college basketball world after defeating Iowa in the 2023 NCAA championship game. The LSU player was also remembered for waving her hand in the face of Iowa player Caitlin Clark and pointing to the ring finger, where her championship ring would soon be placed. Since then, she has signed greater than a dozen NIL contracts, becoming the second-highest contracted athlete behind softball player Lauren Burke.

So some people understood exactly where Reese’s decision not to put himself at risk got here from.

“I’m glad you left and didn’t get into any mess. A way to be a bigger person and choose an important path. I’m a South Carolina fan, but I’m a huge fan of yours,” one person he said on X

“It’s okay to make a statement, but you don’t owe us an explanation. We don’t doubt your loyalty and spirit. Just rise above it all and keep jumping,” one other he tweeted.

Even though Reese walked away from the fight, she made contact with Flau’jae on the sidelines, according to footage of Reese talking to Johnson after which hugging her just before LSU women’s basketball assistant coach Gary Redus II approached her.

They won’t ever make me hate them #LSU Flaujae and Angel Reese 👏🏽 💜 😊 pic.twitter.com/89C5zVVIQ8

— Autumn (@AutumnBottomm) March 11, 2024

During the postgame press conference, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey commented on the altercation, stating that the 6-foot-7 Cardoso didn’t need to be involved in the brawl, especially by pushing the 5-foot-7 Johnson as hard as she did.

“It’s ugly. It’s not good. Nobody wants to be a part of it. Nobody wants to see that ugliness. But I can tell you one thing: I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese. Don’t push the baby.”

“I wish she had pushed Angel Reese. … You 6’8”, don’t push someone so little.

Kim Mulkey speaks out after Kamilla Cardoso shoved Flau’jae Johnson in LSU-SC brawl 😳 pic.twitter.com/AOUaVlrbKS

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 10, 2024

“Don’t put so much pressure on someone,” she added. “In my opinion it was inappropriate. Let’s let the two girls who were barking take care of it.

Many didn’t like the coach’s comments.

“I totally understand the ‘select someone your personal size’ principle. But something doesn’t sit right with me about this white woman trying to put Angel in a nasty situation. He gets Mr. Candy from Django. He allows his best “mandingo warriors” to fight to the death – one person he wrote, adding: “Okay. Maybe I’m reaching a bit… but that is where my thoughts went. I’m glad Angel stayed away from it.

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley also addressed the fight, but her comments had a distinct tone.

“I haven’t been in the locker room yet, but I want to say that Kamilla understands. She really understands,” the Philadelphia native said. “I feel in the event you talk to Kamila about things, she’ll probably say she let her emotions get the better of her and she or he needs to take care of them higher.

“It has to be higher. She’s so necessary to our team, so necessary to the state of girls’s basketball. Kamilla is a star and we actually cannot allow her to be in the locker room anywhere apart from during halftime during basketball games,” Staley continued.

Turning to Johnson directly“She just apologized and said she wasn’t that type of player. And I really appreciate it, it’s something no one will ever hear if I don’t say anything. And she’s not,” Staley said. “He’s a really good person. Things just escalated. I will take responsibility for what happened on our side.”

Because she was ejected from the game for fighting, Cardoso can be suspended for the Lady Gamecocks’ next game, which can be in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament. As her coach said, the Brazilian center actually believed she had acted inappropriately.

“I would like to apologize sincerely for my behavior during today’s match,” Cardoso wrote on Twitter, assuring the league, division and fans. “My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any inconvenience or inconvenience it may have caused.”

Cardosa says it takes “full responsibility” for its actions and is “determined to conduct itself” in the future “with the utmost respect and sportsmanship.”

I would love to sincerely apologize for my behavior during today’s match. My behavior was not representative of myself or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it could have caused. I take full responsibility for my…

— Kamilla_Cardoso (@Kamillascsilva) March 10, 2024