Boxing champion Claressa Shields didn’t hold back on June 10 as she took to social media to express frustration after being passed over for the 2025 BET Sportswoman of the Year award. The honor instead went to WNBA rising star Angel Reese, who claimed the accolade for the second consecutive year.
Shields addressed the snub in a candid post on X (formerly Twitter), writing, Still don’t know how I didn’t win the Sportswoman of the Year for the @BETAwards but congrats to Angel Reese and all the other nominees, punctuating the message with a shrug emoji. I just thought accolades mattered.
It’s easy to see why Shields might feel slighted. Over the past year, her resume has only grown more impressive. Last July, she claimed both the WBO light heavyweight and WBC heavyweight titles after defeating Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse. Then in February, she added the WBA heavyweight crown to her collection with a win over Danielle Perkins. These wins marked major milestones in her quest to cement her legacy as one of the greatest female boxers in history.
Despite her clear disappointment, Shields kept her message respectful and made sure to show love for the winner. Ain’t nobody saying Angel Reese don’t have accolades or she not good… I’m saying I thought the person with THE MOST accolades & accomplishments would win the Award, she continued. I’m team Angel Reese!
The competition for this year’s award was undeniably fierce. Alongside Shields and Reese were high-profile contenders like Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, tennis sensation Coco Gauff, track star Sha’Carri Richardson, basketball phenoms A’ja Wilson and JuJu Watkins, rapper-athlete Flau’jae Johnson, and South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-division boxing champion, showed up to the BET Awards with her signature flair. She attended the ceremony alongside her boyfriend, Brooklyn rapper Papoose, and appeared to make the most of her first nomination experience. For my first BET nomination, I came how a champion should, she wrote in an Instagram caption, sharing photos of the couple enjoying the night out.
On the men’s side, the BET Sportsman of the Year award went to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, fresh off a Super Bowl victory. Hurts beat out a stacked group of nominees including baseball slugger Aaron Judge, basketball stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum, football standout Saquon Barkley, and iconic football coach Deion Sanders.
While Shields didn’t walk away with the trophy, she certainly made headlines—and raised important questions about how we define greatness and determine recognition. Her powerful message struck a chord with fans and athletes alike who are watching closely as women in sports continue to break barriers and demand the respect they’ve earned.