Fact Check: Is Angel Reese related to Shaq? Viral uncle tweet debunked

Angel Reese led LSU to its first NCAA women's basketball championship on Sunday. Reese, however, was criticized for taunting Iowa's Caitlin Clark towards the end of the game.

Dave Portnoy and Keith Olbermann were just two of the personalities who called out Reese on Twitter. Portnoy called her a "classless piece of sh*t," and Olbermann called her a "f***ing idiot."

Shaquille O'Neal came to Reese's defense by going after Portnoy and Olbermann. He had a great response to Portnoy, who has been accused of sexual misconduct in the past. The LA Lakers legend also told Olbermann to "shut up."

Angel Reese noticed that Shaquille O'Neal defended her on Twitter and replied:

"Yeah my uncle Shaq don't play bout me. Period."

Fans on social media quickly began to speculate if Reese and O'Neal are actually related. However, they are not related. Reese calling O'Neal her uncle was just a term of endearment.

But they do have one thing in common: They both attended LSU. Reese helped the Tigers win their first NCAA women's basketball championship, while O'Neal was a superstar at the school from 1989 to 1992. Also, O'Neal's son, Shareef, and daughter, Amirah, played for the men's and women's teams in recent years as well. The Hall of Famer regularly visits the campus, often for football games.

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Angel Reese named Most Outstanding Player

Angel Reese of LSU

Angel Reese had 15 points and 10 rebounds in LSU's 102-85 win over Iowa on Sunday. Reese was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 23.3 points, 15.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

Reese also shot 52.7%. As such, her move from Maryland to LSU certainly paid off.

But her success on the court was ultimately overshadowed by her taunts towards Caitlin Clark. However, Reese was unapologetic and defended her actions. She told reporters after the game that people were just looking for something to complain about. She also pointed out why not many were critical of Clark when she performed the same gesture in Iowa's win over Louisville in the Elite Eight.

"All year, I was critiqued for who I was," Reese said. "I don't fit the narrative, I don't fit the box that y'all want me to be in. I'm too hood. I'm too ghetto. Y'all told me that all year, but when other people do it, and y'all don't say nothing.

"So, this is for the girls that look like me, that's gonna speak up for what they believe in. It's unapologetically you, and that's what I did it for tonight. It was bigger than me tonight. And Twitter is going to go into a rage every time."