Angel Reese wore a “Be A Sheryl” sweatshirt after LSU’s 81-58 win over Texas A&M on Monday night. It was a tribute to basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes, who was in attendance for the SEC game.

The clothing message was a direct reference to the “Don’t Be A Sheryl” T-shirts worn by some fans at a recent Iowa women’s basketball game as part of a drawn-out controversy over comments Swoopes made about Caitlin Clark.

After pictures of the “Don’t Be A Sheryl” tops caused a stir online and Swoopes deactivated her X account, many women’s basketball players offered public support of the three-time WNBA MVP. Reese was at the forefront of that movement.

Swoopes, whose misleading statement about Clark on a podcast snowballed into something she didn’t intend, has since mended relations with the Hawkeyes’ star player with Reese’s help. So, Monday’s visual of Reese and Swoopes together smiling marked a happy ending to an issue that dragged on for several weeks.

“The Past & The Present,” wrote Reese in a message accompanying her picture with Swoopes. “I love you.”

Reese’s grin alongside Swoopes stood in stark contrast with her expressions not long before, when Texas A&M players tested her patience. The 22-year-old received a technical foul for her role in a confrontation with the Aggies that prompted referees to send the teams to their respective benches.

LSU has won four games in a row. ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Despite her frustrations on the court, Reese still logged a double-double as the Tigers dominated their conference opponent with the help of an emerging freshman.

“I felt very comfortable from start to finish of this game,” head coach Kim Mulkey said via The Advocate following the contest.

“I thought A&M got some wide-open looks,” Mulkey then conceded when looking for areas of improvement. “They just missed. So, we’ve got to continue to teach on the defensive end because that could be us some night. There’ll be days when we can’t score the ball. So, you gotta continue to work.”

Reese now has double-doubles in five consecutive games and nine of the past 10. Given her tumultuous start to the campaign, her recent run has been a welcome development.

And it’s come with the support of key individuals in her life, including Swoopes, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, and her boyfriend, Cam’Ron Fletcher.

“I go through things,” Reese said earlier this season. “We all go through things. And just being able to have so many people that were super supportive to me … really showed me a lot and who really cares for me.”