Angel Reese criticized for waving goodbye to fouled opponent during March Madness tournament

Angel Reese is being criticized for making one other hand gesture during the NCAA tournament.

LSU Tigers won 83-56 victory over Middle Tennessee according to the NCAA Tournament game on Sunday, March 24. But it wasn’t until the third quarter that Reese’s emotions began to show, when Tennessee center Anastasiia Boldyreva drew a foul on the sphere.

Boldyreva received his fifth foul of the sport and was sent off. As Reese walked off the court, visibly upset, she rose to her feet and commenced waving goodbye to Boldyreva. She turned to the group and encouraged the LSU fans to cheer louder, then waved goodbye again.

Fans were outraged when the video clip was shared on X, with some calling Reese a “mean girl.”

“She is probably the most disliked athlete in college sports. She matches her HC perfectly,” wrote one fan.

“What a clown,” another person added.

Another viewer compared Reese to NBA alumnus Dennis Rodman, who has also been known to draw criticism for his play. Reese’s popularity and prominence increased during the 2023 NCAA Tournament after making a hand gesture to Iowa Hawkeye Caitlin Clark.

LSU won the tournament and marked the start of Reese’s rising star status. Since her 2023 NCAA win, Reese has appeared within the ESPYs, the swimsuit edition, and Latto and Cardi B’s “Put It On The Floor Again” music video. He also boasts over $1.8 million in NIL deals, and Clark has acquired $3 million through endorsements from Nike, Gatorade, State Farm and Buick, amongst others.

In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, LSU will face the winner of Creighton and UCLA within the Sweet 7. There is a probability that LSU will get a rematch with Caitlin Clark and Iowa within the Elite Eight.