"When Angel Reese does it, it’s classless" - Shannon Sharpe implies there are racial undertones in Angel Reese criticism

Following the NCAA women's championship game, Angel Reese has become one of the most talked about people in sports. Some bashed Reese for taunting Iowa star Caitlin Clark.

SportsCenter

@SportsCenter

ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK

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ANGEL REESE TO CAITLIN CLARK 😳 https://t.co/2NY0CEzwJ3

Clark had a remarkable run in the tournament, but came up just short of winning a title as the Lady Tigers won 102-85. Along with winning the game by nearly 40 points, Angel Reese capped off the victory by using one of Clark's own gestures against her.

Not long after Reese did this to Clark, debates ensued all over social media. After seeing how much she has been criticized, one analyst feels there is a deeper issue here.

Because the game was so out of hand, some said it was classless for Reese to mock Clark. On FS1's "Undisputed," Shannon Sharpe gave his thoughts on the matter and why the discourse has been so strong now.

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"Forty-eight hours ago, when Clark did a John Cena, it was considered swag. Forty-eight hours later, Reese does the exact same gesture, it's classless. It's funny how America, society, sees Black and white."

UNDISPUTED

@undisputed

"When Caitlin Clark did it, it was swag, but when Angel Reese does it, it’s classless. It's very clear: this is not about anything else but race.”

— @ShannonSharpe

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"When Caitlin Clark did it, it was swag, but when Angel Reese does it, it’s classless. It's very clear: this is not about anything else but race.”

— @ShannonSharpe https://t.co/kHTLY4sEKT

Other analysts bring up similar point to Shannon Sharpe regarding Angel Reese situation

Some might not have liked that Shannon Sharpe brought race into the conversation, but he wasn't the only one to do so. Another national analyst echoed some of the same points.

While on ESPN's "First Take," Stephen A. Smith brought up the same issue as Shapre. He said that Clark was praised for her "swagger" on the court while Angel Reese was instantly criticized.

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"We all know that there's a white/Black issue here," Smith said. "Because the fact of the matter is when Caitlin did it, people were celebrating it and they were talking about nothing but her greatness.

"But then the second the sister stepped up and threw it back in her face, now you got half the basketball world saying you know what, that's not the classiest thing to do."

Stephen A Smith

@stephenasmith

When Caitlin Clark did it...people were celebrating it and talking about nothing but her greatness.

BUT the SECOND a sister stepped up and thew it back in her face, everyone is mad. Come on!

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When Caitlin Clark did it...people were celebrating it and talking about nothing but her greatness.

BUT the SECOND a sister stepped up and thew it back in her face, everyone is mad. Come on! https://t.co/nudeaqrcgk

Before diving into the racial undertone of the matter, Smith also brought up another issue, that Clark has disrespected players worse during the tournament but not a word had been said about it.

Smith's final point is also one that should be talked about the most. If people are going to be mad at anyone, it should be Clark. She started all this with her taunting but yet it's Reese being shamed for stepping up to her.

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