“Thug,” “Classless,” and the Policing of Black Womanhood in Sports: A Case Study of Racialized Language and Angel Reese

This paper critically analyzes the racialized and gendered discourse on social media platforms about Angel Reese, a Black (former) college basketball player who faced intense scrutiny after the 2023 NCAA Women’s National Championship. Using a qualitative content analysis of posts on X, we examine trending terms like “classless” and “thug” to understand how they act as coded language to police the behavior of Black sportswomen. Drawing on Black feminist theory, intersectionality, and the concept of misogynoir, we analyze how Reese’s post-game actions, which were similar to those of her white peers, were interpreted through a racially biased lens. Our results show that online criticism of Reese reflects historical controlling images about Black womanhood, class, and respectability. This study contributes to existing research on race, gender, and sports communication by highlighting the ongoing impact of dominant narratives and the pressing need for more inclusive, intersectional approaches in digital sports discussions.