In a new interview with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Claressa Shields delivers a powerful message about visibility, respect, and the media’s treatment of Black women athletes. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and undisputed boxing champion didn’t walk back her viral comments about Angel Reese; she clarified them.
“I’m not angry or salty or any of that,” she said. “I was just shocked.”
Shields expressed deep admiration for Reese, explaining that her remarks were never meant to diminish the LSU star but to spark a larger conversation about consistency in recognizing Black excellence in sports.
“I’ve won the Women’s Sports Foundation Award for Sportswoman of the Year three times—more than any other woman,” Shields said. “I think Serena Williams won it twice. I went to the ESPYs as the only female boxer to ever win Best Boxer. I have a Nickelodeon award. I mean, I have all these things that I’ve won. So I thought that would mean finally getting some recognition with BET.”
She also opened up about the frustration of being overlooked despite her trailblazing career.Shields said. She pointed to ongoing disparities in how female athletes in combat sports are covered and celebrated compared to their male counterparts.
The interview touches on the tension between speaking truth and being misinterpreted. “Anything that we do—good, bad—we say something, wear something; they’re all down our throats. Grown men, grown women constantly judging us, trolling us, trying to break our will and make us not be confident. And I think we both experience that. Being Black women, they attack us every single day. When I see her getting it and I go through it myself, I’m clapping for myself and clapping for her, because she just keeps going. I actually hate that it looks like I joined the Angel Reese hate train.”
You can see the full interview below.