Claressa Shields cleared this up five months ago. She never boarded the “Hate Angel Reese” train, and neither did she want to. She even said outright that she’s “Team Angel Reese.” But because the internet can’t resist stirring things up and pitting women against each other, she’s had to step in and explain herself all over again.

“No, I hate when people, like, when they spin narratives. That, like, really gets on my nerves. I think that would mean they want to spin everything and make it into something negative. I like what she is doing. Posted her on my page before,” Claressa Shield said on Club Shay Shay.

Well, in case you do not remember what unfolded, let us take you back.

On June 9 in Los Angeles, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese took home the BET Sportswoman of the Year honor at the 2025 BET Awards, her third time winning the accolade. Among the nominees was a star-studded lineup of women’s boxing legend Claressa Shields, A’ja Wilson, Coco Gauff, Dawn Staley, Flau’jae Johnson, JuJu Watkins, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Simone Biles.

So, when Reese was announced as the winner, Shields posted on social media in a way that made clear she wasn’t thrilled about the result. “Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees 🤷🏽‍♀️ I just thought accolades mattered,” Shields wrote in her post.

Well, Shields really is a legend. Last July, she beat Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse to claim the WBO light-heavyweight and WBC heavyweight belts, and in February, she knocked off Danielle Perkins to pick up the WBA heavyweight title. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, she said she supports Angel Reese, but also made it clear she felt she personally deserved the award more.

But with the internet divided right down the middle on Angel Reese, the reactions to her were either over-the-top praise or intense criticism. There was no in-between. Still, it wasn’t the comments online that pushed Shields to speak up the first time. It was the way people suddenly painted her as someone who hates Reese, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

So, she later added:

“Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades or she not good…. I’m saying I thought the person with “THE MOST” accolades & accomplishments would win the Award. I’m team Angel Reese!”

“It wasn’t nothing against Angel, and I hate that they tried to pit me against her, when it’s like I’m a fan of Angel Reese. She’s young and she’s hungry, and I see her wanting to get better. And honestly I don’t know who get more hate, me or her.”

“I hate that it actually looks like I joined the Angel Reese hate train. It’s like no, listen, I’m with you. f— them… I’m not allowed to be a competitor? That’s what we are. We are female athletes. We are competitors… But I really do hate how they tried to pin us against each other. Listen, I’m an Angel Reese fan. I’m not a hater of her.”

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As for Reese, she took this whole situation pretty hard. She was fresh off a rough blowout loss to the defending champs, the New York Liberty, in a season where her team just couldn’t find its rhythm no matter how hard she tried.

And even though she never mentioned Claressa Shields directly, it really felt like everything hit her at once. The ugly loss, her own dip in form, and the constant shots people take at her talent and success. In her response, she admitted where she fell short, promised she’d bounce back, and even recognized the privilege she has.

“It’s great. Obviously, this is my third one. Obviously, it really meant something to other people today ’cause it’s me. And I focus on basketball. I come in to work every day and work. I don’t complain, I don’t care about anything else. I have bad days. I haven’t been playing well at all. And I could sit here and just mope around and point the finger, but it’s been me.”

“People would die and kill to have this job. Being able to play with the best players in the world means a lot to me. I put my all in this sh–. I do.”

Honestly, there’s no way around it. Reese is just 23, figuring things out like the rest of us, and she doesn’t deserve the level of hate that gets thrown her way. It’s everyone’s first run at life, eh? And the thing is, being a sportswoman isn’t entirely about on-court production.

Angel Reese’s success backs up her award recognition

This is what BET had to say when Reese won the award. This should tell one a lot.

“And that’s always been Angel Reese’s superpower: visibility. In a sport that has often tried to flatten or soften Black women’s personality, she’s never toned herself down. And she hasn’t needed to. The numbers speak. The endorsements rolled in. The NIL deals flourished. And the fans followed her into the WNBA, where she was drafted by the Chicago Sky in 2024.”

Besides that, Reese already has a stronghold in the league when it comes to double-doubles and grabbing boards. And if people want to talk about her shooting, just look at the numbers. She’s improving fast. Her field-goal percentage jumped from 38.1% to 45.8% in her second year. Now, even A’ja Wilson didn’t hit 50% until her fifth season, so, like all the greats, she’s only going to get better. Her assists climbed too, from 1.9 to 3.7, showing she’s making her teammates better as well.

Still, the best part is how Reese is showing young Black athletes that

making it in pro sports is possible. She went from being doubted to becoming a star in the league, proving that hard work and staying flexible can beat any uncertainty.