Claressa Shields just turned up the heat after losing Sportswoman of the Year to Angel Reese (for the third time!). The boxing legend took to X to vent her disappointment.
Shields didn’t hold back, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to hint that her decorated career should have clinched the win. And, as you can imagine, the internet went wild!
Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky star, continues to leave an indelible mark on women’s sports, adding yet another trophy to her rapidly growing cabinet. The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft snagged the 2025 BET Sportswoman of the Year award for the second consecutive year and for the third time overall.
She beat out a stacked list of high-profile stars, including Simone Biles, Coco Gauff, Dawn Staley, A’ja Wilson, JuJu Watkins, and, of course, Claressa Shields. Reese’s recent achievements, like setting a WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles and her significant impact on women’s sports culture, undoubtedly contributed to her recognition.
While the WNBA and the Sky were quick to congratulate their “biggest asset” on Tuesday, the reaction wasn’t universally positive for Reese.
After the ceremony, Claressa Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist boxer, took to X with comments that many fans immediately interpreted as disappointment over the outcome. Her posts quickly sparked speculation, prompting Claressa to “clear the air.”
Shields, who holds the extraordinary distinction of being the only fighter, male or female, to be an undisputed champion in three different divisions in the four-belt era, openly questioned the win. Her recent victories include beating Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for the WBO light heavyweight and WBC heavyweight titles in July 2024 and Danielle Perkins in February 2025 for the WBA heavyweight title.
When a fan suggested Reese had the most accolades, Shields was quick to “correct” them, shifting the focus to overall career success: “Yes, she does, but who has more accolades…. More success in their field. Please use Google before responding,” Shields wrote.
She then clarified her stance, insisting she’s “team Angel Reese” but still believes her own “overall accolades outweigh the Sky star’s.” “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!” she reiterated.
The internet, naturally, wasted precisely zero time chiming in.
Was Claressa Shields right to voice her opinion, or should she have kept it to herself?
