Angel Reese defends not coming to his teammate’s aid in LSU-South Carolina fight: ‘Person has my status’
College basketball
Angel Reese herself issued a mea culpa for not standing up for her teammates during Sunday’s scuffle near the end of the Gamecocks’ conference title win over LSU.
As the rest of the LSU Tigers attacked Flau’jae Johnson’s defense, Reese was seen on Sunday heading the other way toward the end of the team’s bench, far from the melee.
The incident occurred with 2:08 remaining on the clock in the SEC tournament championship game.
South Carolina star Kamilla Cardoso sparked a bench-clearing brawl after aggressively pushing Johnson in a retaliatory move after running into the Gamecocks’ Ashlyn Watkins.
Reese faced backlash for not standing up for Johnson at this time Finally he discussed it on X shortly after 10 p.m
“As a person at my STATUS, sometimes you have to walk away from certain situations,” Reese wrote. “Remember the part before that I had twisted my ankle AGAIN and was already walking to the bench. I ALWAYS drive for mine. I am super proud of this team and super excited for March.”
Another video posted to X showed Reese talking one-on-one with Johnson after things broke out.
Cardoso also apologized for her role in the chaos.
She was one of the key players involved in the incident
“I would like to sincerely apologize for my actions during today’s match,” Cardoso wrote on X after the match. “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 this may have caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I will conduct myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future.”
Louisiana State University forward Angel Reese (10) waves to fans after South Carolina defeated LSU for the SEC championship game. Ken Ruinard / Staff / USA TODAY NETWORKThe Gamecocks won the SEC crown in what would ultimately be a 79-72 win, but due to the episode, they will be without Cardoso for the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Because she was assessed a fighting penalty, Cardoso was the only player who would miss time in March Madness as a result of the skirmish.
“I would like to apologize to the basketball community. When you play games like this in our league, things get heated,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said in an ESPN interview after the game. “No bad intentions. Their emotions were so far ahead of them that sometimes things like this happen.”
South Carolina is the presumed No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.
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