Angel Reese's Pre-Fight Visit to Terence Crawford Draws Online Backlash Ahead of Canelo Bout

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese was filmed entering the locker room of boxer Terence Crawford shortly before his title fight against Canelo Álvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, a moment that drew sharp criticism and mockery on social media.

The footage showed Reese, wearing a black bodysuit, bright orange bag, sunglasses and heeled black boots, shake hands with Crawford before stooping to embrace him. She then introduced Crawford to a friend she had brought along. The encounter took place just before the much-anticipated bout for multiple super middleweight titles.

Fans on X were quick to react, with some suggesting Reese’s presence could be a distraction. "Nothing against Angel nor her homegirl, but it's time to lock tf in! No more handshakes and hugs LFG Bud!" one user wrote. Another posted, "He's losing for sure... it's an omen!!!" A separate post accused the opposing camp of planting a distraction, while another called the visit "an attention seeking non-winning WNBA player in Bud's locker room. That's a bad sign right there."

The Crawford-Álvarez matchup was billed as one of the biggest fights of the year, with the winner in contention to claim six super middleweight title belts. Betting markets favored Álvarez, with FanDuel listing him around -180 on the eve of the fight.

Reese, a high-profile WNBA player widely covered for both her on-court performances and public presence, has drawn attention at several major sporting events since entering the league. The video of the locker-room visit circulated widely online in the moments before the bout and became a focal point for commentary unrelated to the boxing itself.

There was no immediate comment from Reese or representatives for Crawford on the encounter. Prominent fight nights often draw celebrities and athletes into fighter areas before and after matches; those visits have occasionally prompted discussion about focus and preparation in the lead-up to major contests.

The exchange underscored how peripheral moments can become central narratives on social media during marquee sporting events, particularly when highly anticipated title fights are involved. The Crawford-Álvarez fight proceeded under the spotlight of both athletic stakes and the heightened attention that surrounds high-profile boxing cards.