Claressa Shields Under Fire After Implying Angel Reese Didn't Deserve Her BET Sportswoman Of The Year Award

Olympic Gold Medalist Claressa Shields was nominated for this year's BET Sportswoman of the Year Award, alongside other superstar athletes, including Sha'Carri Richardson, Simone Biles, A'ja Wilson, Dawn Staley, Juju Watkins, and, of course, the WNBA star Angel Reese.

However, after Reese, whose impressive college career at LSU has carried over into her WNBA success with the Chicago Sky, won the BET honor for the third consecutive year, Shields voiced her confusion and frustration on social media.

After her posts began making waves, however, sports watchers and other online commentators quickly pushed back against her claims, defending Angel Reese and highlighting her many accomplishments in the process.

On X, Shields, a boxing world champion, was quick to voice her confusion over BET awarding the Sportswoman of the Year honor to Reese instead of her.

"Still don't know how I didn't win the Sportswoman of the Year for the [BET Awards]," the athlete wrote on her profile before adding, "but Congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees. I just thought accolades mattered."

Fans were quick to fire back at Shields with their thoughts on her comments about Reese, with one saying, "Girl, don't get on her complaining. You're talented; don't let that get overshadowed."

Another wrote, "Sportsmanship applies outside the ring. Queen-up."

Other online users pointed out that the award's criteria often extend beyond pure accolades and also recognize an athlete's cultural impact in and out of their sport.

"This screams loser," someone commented. "You weren't even 2nd, 3rd, 4th OR 5th runner up. YOU wouldn't have won, [and] there's ladies on the nominee list that have more accolades than you."

After receiving backlash for her initial post, Shields offered a clarification, insisting she wasn't implying that Reese wasn't a skilled player.

"I'm saying I thought the person with 'THE MOST' accolades [and] accomplishments would win the Award. I'm team Angel Reese!" she added.

The heavyweight boxer's clarification sparked even more criticism, with users even listing Reese's recent accomplishments, prompting Shields to post another statement declaring she wasn't "joining in on any hate train" regarding Reese.

"I have mad respect for her and all the other female athletes that excel in their sport," she added. "As for my earlier comments, I am allowed to express my feelings. I was shocked I didn't win. ... It's ok to be a competitor."

On June 10, following the Chicago Sky's game against the New York Liberty, where Reese posted another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, the 6'3" power forward broke her silence on the controversy surrounding her monumental BET win.

"It's great," she said before acknowledging the commentators suggesting she wasn't worthy of the honor. "I just focus on basketball. I come into 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."

Reese, whose shooting efficiency has been a point of criticism this year, only connecting on about 36% of her shots from inside the arc, continued, "I take accountability. I come in every day and try and be better than the last. I know my teammates trust me; I know they have my back."

"Everything else is everything else," she added. "I'm just here to come to work every day... and be able to enjoy my job."

Although the Sky lost to the Liberty by 19 in their most recent matchup, Reese did have something positive to celebrate after the game.

According to the WNBA, "Angel Reese [became] the fastest player in [the league's] history to reach 30 career double-doubles," securing that notch in only 42 games.

A week before that, the basketball player set another record after becoming the fastest player to reach 500+ points and 500+ rebounds in WNBA history, earning that accolade in 38 regular-season games, another strong argument for why she earned her third BET award.