Following Angel Reese‘s win of the BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, professional boxer Claressa Shields expressed on social media that she believed she deserved the honor. Shields shared her feelings shortly after the award ceremony, sparking conversations about the selection and competition between athletes.
Claressa Shields Voices Surprise Over Award Outcome
Claressa Shields took to X (formerly Twitter) soon after the award announcement to say she was puzzled about not winning. She wrote,
“Still 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,”
highlighting her surprise despite congratulating Reese and the other contenders. Shields explained that she had assumed the award was based on measurable sports achievements and accolades, which influenced her reaction.
Clarifying Intentions Amid Public Reaction
After fans of Angel Reese interpreted Shields’s statements as criticism, Shields responded to clarify her position to avoid misunderstandings. She assured the public,
“I’m not joining in on any hate train when it comes to Angel Reese,”
and expressed respect for Reese and all female athletes excelling in their fields.
She further elaborated,
“As for my earlier comments, I am allowed to express my feelings. I was shocked I didn’t win. I was under the impression the category was graded on accolades of your sport. It’s OK to be a competitor,”
explaining that her remarks stemmed from her competitive nature rather than any personal ill will.
Shields Addresses the Controversy in a First Interview Since the Awards
In her first interview following the controversy, conducted by Brandon Scoop B Robinson, Shields reiterated that she holds no resentment toward Reese. She emphasized her fandom, stating,
“I wasn’t angry. I do feel like it was a nice batch of girls that were nominated, but I still felt that I had more accomplishments as far as my longevity. So that’s all it was about.”
Shields also challenged the narrative trying to pit her against Reese, saying,
“It wasn’t anything against Angel, and I hate that they’re trying to pit me against her. I’m a fan of Angel Reese. She’s young, she’s hungry, and I see her wanting to get better. Honestly, I don’t know who gets more hate—me or her.”
Performance and Encouragement Between Athletes
Angel Reese has been performing notably in the current WNBA season with averages of 10.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game, shooting 35.8% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 67.7% from the free-throw line. Shields, known for her competitive spirit and support of fellow athletes, expressed admiration and encouragement for Reese’s continuous growth.
She advised Reese,
“Keep working. Keep getting better. You feel me? That’s my advice to her because when you win, that’s all that matters, for real,”
underscoring the importance of perseverance and improvement in sports.