Angel Reese pleaded guilty to not standing up for his teammates during Sunday’s late-game brawl in the Gamecocks’ conference championship win over LSU.
While the rest of the LSU Tigers charged into Fraujai Johnson’s defense, Reese was spotted making his way backwards toward the end of the team’s bench, far from the melee Sunday.
The incident occurred with 2:08 remaining in the SEC Tournament championship game.
South Carolina star Camila Cardoso aggressively shoved Johnson in retaliation after colliding with Gamecocks’ Ashlyn Watkins, sparking a scuffle on the bench.
Rees faced backlash for not supporting Johnson, but It was finally resolved with X After 10pm
“As someone in my position, sometimes you have to run away from certain situations,” Reese wrote. “Remember the play before that, I twisted my ankle again and was already walking towards the bench. I always ride for myself. I’m so proud of this team. I’m really looking forward to March.”
Another video posted to X showed Reese speaking one-on-one with Johnson after their breakup.
Cardoso also apologized for his role in the chaos.
She was one of the main people involved in the incident.
“I sincerely apologize for my actions during today’s game.” Cardoso wrote this about ‘X’ after the game: “My actions do not represent me personally or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret the offense and inconvenience they caused. I take full responsibility for my actions and will continue to do so to the fullest extent possible.” We are committed to conducting ourselves with respect and sportsmanship.”
The Siamcocks ultimately won 79-72 and clinched the SEC crown, but the episode meant they would go into the first round of the NCAA Tournament without Cardoso.
Cardoso was given a fighting penalty, making him the only player in March Madness to miss playing time as a result of the skirmish.
“I just want to apologize to the basketball community. When you’re playing in a championship game like this in our league, things get heated,” University of South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said in an interview with ESPN after the game. Ta. “There’s no malicious intent. Sometimes things like this happen because their emotions get ahead of them.”
South Carolina is the presumptive No. 1 seed for the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
