After Hitting “Rock Bottom”, Angel Reese Resonates With 5-Star Guard Mikey Williams’ Resilient Attribute

Angel Reese’s first year as a rookie was truly impressive, but not without its challenges. The rivalry between her and Caitlin Clark’s fans ignited after the 2023 NCAA Final, drawing intense scrutiny to the Chicago Sky team and making them targets for trolls. Despite the distractions, Reese finished her rookie season with notable achievements, including a streak of double-doubles. When she welcomed another young star from the college basketball world, she admired how the rising star faced similar challenges and shared her own experience of navigating tough times.

Recently, Mikey Williams from the UFC Knights joined Angel Reese on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel. The conversation veered towards dealing with trolls and negative comments that athletes often encounter both on the court and online. Curious about Williams’ approach to handling such negativity, Reese inquired about his strategy. Williams confidently revealed how he stays composed and focused despite the criticism.

“Now though, I don’t hear nobody, like I be on the court, like I’ve just learned how to, uh, I’ve just learned how to keep it, keep my composure, really just never really show too much emotion. You know how sometimes the crowd, like, ‘overrated, overrated,’ like, it’ll turn somebody up? Like me, I’m not somebody that’ll turn up. Like, you’re not going to throw me off, though, but it’s like I turn myself up. Like, I don’t let nobody push the button. Yeah, like, I feel like I push my own buttons,” shared Williams.

Reese dove right into the conversation, highlighting how social media often amplifies only one side of the story, leading to unwarranted criticism and harsh comments. Drawing from her own encounters, she brought a personal perspective to the discussion and took a moment to praise Williams for his resilience.

“I feel like you have to be really strong to like yeah it’s okay to be in our position, like to have social media platforms. A lot of people don’t know the half and like to be able to be in this position and be strong through everything. Like you feel like I’ve been at points where things gone viral things happen and you feel like you hit rock bottom and like everybody against you and they hate you and all this sh-t like it’s hard,” mentioned the Sky forward.

In the inaugural episode of her podcast, Reese candidly discussed the darker aspects of her journey. She recounted how edited images of her circulated on social media, along with receiving death threats and facing instances of people following her to her residence. However, like Mikey Williams, she embodies a resilient spirit—a trait she emphasized in her previous remarks before entering the professional basketball realm earlier this year.

From controversy to resilience: How Angel Reese channels criticism into motivation

Sometimes, a single incident can thrust an athlete into the spotlight, especially when shrouded in controversy. For Angel Reese, that moment arrived during the 2023 NCAA Final match between LSU and Iowa. In a high-pressure face-off, Reese mimicked John Cena’s iconic “You can’t see me” gesture towards Caitlin Clark, then gestured towards her finger, signifying LSU’s championship win. What initially started as friendly banter quickly escalated into criticism, marking Reese’s initial significant encounter with public scrutiny.

Since then, the Chicago Sky forward has often found herself at the center of controversies, whether due to her personal decisions or outspoken comments. However, in March, Reese confronted the noise head-on, revealing that the criticism and trolls serve as motivation for her to work harder and deliver even more impressive performances on the court.

“I want people to underestimate me. I’m telling you, I have everything bookmarked for the right moment when everything just falls right into my hands………. That’s why I’m always so competitive [and] have a really competitive edge,” Reese had expressed after a challenging period where her performance dipped, and LSU succumbed to Clark’s Iowa in the Elite Eight.

Angel Reese’s unyielding resilience remains steadfast, and now she finds a kindred spirit in Mikey Williams. Together, they share the determination to block out the noise and concentrate on their game.