WNBA star Angel Reese scored a major achievement this week when she was chosen as BET’s 2025 “Sportswoman of the Year.” However, boxing legend Claressa Shields seems to think she was undeserving of the honor.
“Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the BET Awards. But, congrats to Angel Reese and all the other Nominees 🤷🏽♀️ I just thought accolades mattered,” Shields wrote in a post on X.
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The Chicago Sky star had a notable rookie season in 2024. Posting just over 13 points and 13 rebounds per game. Her numbers earned her All-Star honors. But her personality and rivalry with Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark expanded her profile and turned her into one of the WNBA’s most recognizable players.
However, a case could be made that it was Reese’s popularity that played a key role in her winning the award. As opposed to her skills on the court. Especially when considering the other nominees for BET’s “Sportswoman of the Year.” The other athletes up for the award were fellow WNBA star A’ja Wilson, Shields, tennis great Coco Gauff, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, USC’s JuJu Watkins, sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, and gymnast Simone Biles.
Both Biles and Richardson won gold medals in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Gauff won the WTA Finals and a French Open Doubles title last year. Shields won two fights, including a second-round knockout last July. But most notable is that 2024 WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson was overlooked for Reese.
BET Award winners are decided through a combination of public voting and a voting academy composed of industry professionals.
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