When Angel Reese was asked who she was rooting for at the Super Bowl, her response was instant—“I’m going with the Eagles tomorrow.” No hesitation. No second guesses. Just one name behind her pick: Jalen Hurts. And why not? Reese, the queen of betting on underdogs, saw a reflection of herself in Hurts, the 2020 second-round pick who silenced doubters and rose to a $255 million franchise quarterback. And her pick paid off as the Eagles soared past Kansas City 40-22. But what no one saw coming, not even Reese herself, was that one day, she’d win a title alongside Hurts. Not in football. Not even in basketball. But in a way that fans would argue over for days!

It all came together at the 2025 BET Awards, which kicked off with a bang as Kevin Hart returned to host the night with his trademark humor. He wasted no time stirring the crowd with jokes that touched on everything during the “Culture’s Biggest Night.” As usual, the spotlight wasn’t just on musicians, actors, or celebrities—it also shone on sports icons from across the globe.

When Hurts won the Sportsman of the Year accolade following his stellar Super Bowl performance, leading the Eagles to victory, there was no doubt he deserved the honor. But the real buzz? It was all about the women’s side—especially with the fierce competition from stars across different sports, including three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, tennis phenom Coco Gauff, and Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields.

Despite the elite field, Chicago Sky’s standout Angel Reese joined rare company by being crowned BET Sportswoman of the Year—for the third consecutive time. Only tennis legend Serena Williams has claimed the award that many times. What made Reese’s win even more special was that she beat out none other than Olympic gymnast Simone Biles to secure the honor.

To be fair, Reese’s basketball excellence more than justifies her place in that elite group. Her rebounding game places her right at the top. She led the league in the category last year while averaging 13.1 points per game. This season, she’s once again a force—leading in offensive boards with 5.6 per game and averaging 12.3 rebounds overall.

And that’s still not the whole story. Her elite rebounding has fueled her rise to one of the league’s top forwards. She has compiled 30 career double-doubles in just 42 games. Most recently, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year at Unrivaled notched another double-double against the New York Liberty, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

But if you thought the accolade was well-deserved, the hooping community on social media is challenging the view.

Why are fans not satisfied with Angel Reese’s name at the BET Awards?

When the results for the BET Awards came out, spectators didn’t hold back. And most of them had strikingly similar thoughts about Angel Reese.“Well, it’s nice for Jalen. But I question the validity of BET’s version of Sportsman of the Year when they make her Angel Reese,” one began.

Now, it’s not that fans doubt Reese’s potential—because they don’t. The controversy stems more from who she was up against. Take A’ja Wilson, for example—a three-time MVP, Olympic gold medalist, and the WNBA’s leading scorer. She stood right beside Reese on the nominee list. And still, Reese took home the award. That’s when things got complicated—at least when it came to basketball. “Nice. Although mind-boggling how Reese wins,” added another user.

But it wasn’t just Wilson. There were more arguably deserving candidates from across the sports world—Claressa Shields (boxing), Sha’Carri Richardson (track and field), Dawn Staley (NCAA basketball), and Simone Biles (gymnastics). All of them have titles that are not only global but historic.

To put it into perspective: Sha’Carri Richardson is the fastest woman alive, Dawn Staley is a national championship-winning coach, building a dynasty in South Carolina, meanwhile, Simone Biles’s the most decorated gymnast of all time—with 37 Olympic and World Championship medals.

Reese, on the other hand, is just starting out. Moreover, her sophomore year in the league has been a little far from positive. Sure she is dominating the boards and had a great off-season, but the Sky are running 2-6 while she averages 9.1 points. So, now you get why fans just aren’t having it. “At first I was like what… and then I was like… oh…” penned another user.

And it’s not just spectators raising eyebrows—even some of the nominees themselves seemed baffled by the outcome. Leading that pack was champion boxer Claressa Shields, who didn’t hold back. “I don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the BET Awards, but congrats to Angel Reese and all the other nominees. I just thought accolades mattered,” she wrote on X.

Once you look at the résumé she’s built, it all makes sense. Shields is a two-time Olympic champion, 17-time world champion, and four-time undisputed champion across multiple weight classes. “Yes, she does [have accomplishments], but who has more accolades? More success in their field…” she followed up. And with a track record like hers, it’s hard not to agree.

But the controversy didn’t stop there. It wasn’t just that Reese won the title over multiple world champions. It was also that she stood side-by-side with NFL superstar Jalen Hurts. “I’m sorry Jalen has to be side by side with this person. It’s like comparing sidewalk gum to gold,” wrote another user.

So, while Reese has carved out her own lane, with her standout college career, a 2023 NCAA championship, and a promising WNBA rookie season, she’s still an emerging star. In contrast, Hurts has already built an NFL empire. Drafted 53rd overall in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Hurts became the Eagles’ starting QB by the end of his rookie year. Since then, he’s earned 2× Pro Bowl honors (2022, 2023) and a Second-team All-Pro selection in 2022. He even holds the NFL single-season quarterback rushing touchdown record (15, tied).

So you see why one user called the pairing: “Best choice and worst choice all in one.” No shade to Reese, she’s building her legacy and has already inspired a new generation of athletes. But when you put her next to world champions and NFL elites, it’s clear why this BET Award win raised more questions than celebrations. So, what do you think? Did Angel Reese deserve the crown, or was this a case of popularity outweighing performance?