Louisiana State University basketball star Angel Reese has said she doesn’t “take disrespect lightly.”

The Tigers’ victory over Iowa to claim their first-ever NCAA Women’s Championship was somewhat overshadowed by claims of taunting involving the sophomore guard and Hawkeyes star Caitlin Clark.

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Reese, nicknamed the Bayou Barbie, finished the Championship Game with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and five assistsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

She claimed that Clark (left) “disrespected” her teammate during their 102-85 winCredit: Reuters

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Reese used Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” gesture – as Clark had against LouisvilleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
After gesturing towards her ring finger at Clark during the game, Reese went viral when she later appeared to make WWE legend John Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” gesture while staring at her opponent.

This was seemingly in reference to when Clark went viral after making the same gesture toward Louisville star Hailey Van Lith during their Elite Eight win over the Cardinals on March 26.

Reese, however, has faced a huge amount of backlash online for her actions.

But it seems that as far as she is concerned, she was simply defending her teammate.

Speaking after the game, Reese said: “[Clark is a] hell of a player but I don’t take disrespect lightly,” according to The Guardian.

“She disrespected Alexis [Morris] and I wanted to pick her pocket. But I had a moment at the end of her game … I was in my moment.”

Clarke told the media after the game that she had “no idea” about the alleged taunting, saying that she was focused on getting to the handshake line to shake hands.

She added that she simply wanted to “be grateful that my team was in that position.”

“All you can do is hold your head high, be proud of what you did, and all the credit in the world to LSU,” she said.

“They were tremendous, they deserve it.”

As for Reese, she was swiftly labeled “classless” across Twitter for her actions.

However, it seems that she knew her gestures would divide opinions.

Post-game, Reese told the media how “Twitter is going to go on a rage every time, and I’m happy.”

Clearly unphased by what others had to say, she said that “all year I was critiqued about who I was.

“I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in a 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, y’all say nothing.

“So this was for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you.

“That’s what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. It was bigger than me.

“Twitter is going to go on a rage every time, and I’m happy. I feel like I’ve helped grow women’s basketball this year.

“I’m super happy and excited. So I’m looking forward to celebrating in the next season.”

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This marked the end to a successful debut season in Baton Rouge, after transferring from Maryland last summerCredit: Reuters