March Madness fans are fuming that the LSU women’s basketball team dipped out ahead of the national anthem prior to their game against the Iowa Hawkeyes, but nobody is more upset than Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
Ahead of the Monday night Elite Eight Monday night match-up, the Hawkeyes patriotically stood in front of the hoop hand-in-hand while the Star Spangled Banner played at Times Union Center in Albany, New York, while the entire Tigers squad was noticeably absent.
During the highly anticipated rematch, last year’s March Madness champs performed dismally against the former runner-ups, who avenged their title game loss in a 94-87 win.
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark stunned with 41 points, 12 assists and 7 rebounds, while viral rival Angel Reese only put up 17 points, made a pitiful seven of her twenty-one free throw attempts, then fouled out with 1:45 left in the game.
LSU Women’s Basketball Team skipped the National Anthem
Iowa stood proud
LSU just got their ass beat
With the entire stadium cheering against them
Season over
Let this be a lesson to all players: the cringy, selfish woke athlete moment is OVER
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 2, 2024
Despite the loss, Reese declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft and is expected to be a top pick. Clark declared ahead of the March Madness Tournament, and is a “consensus No. 1 pick.”
According to head coach Kim Mulkey, the players failing to be present on the court during the national anthem was not a form of protest.
In a post-game press conference, she told journalists that her team was following their typical pre-game routine.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” she remarked. “We kind of have a routine when they’re on the floor and they come off at the 12-minute mark.”
“I don’t know, we come in and we do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, listen, that’s nothing intentionally done,” Mulkey claimed.
Baton Rouge Proud News reporter Chessa Bouche, who has covered the team for the past three years, pointed out that the team is never on the court for the national anthem, nor are the men’s basketball or football teams.
Hey guys, the always angry LSU coach Kim Mulkey wants everyone to know that her team of anti-American thugs weren't being disrespectful to the Nation Anthem because she has no idea when the Anthem is played. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡👇 pic.twitter.com/WBZjtvIAjH
— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) April 2, 2024
“This wasn’t a one-time incident,” she noted. “Clearly, a lot of people care. If you’re going to do this, then be prepared to take the heat and the hate. It’s their right to not be present for them anthem and its also critics right to hate on that.”
Bouche’s remarks were confirmed by and LSU spokesperson, who put out a statement about the pre-game practices of both the men’s and women’s basketball teams.
“Our basketball programs have not been on the court for the anthem for the last several seasons,” the statement read.
“Usually the anthem is played 12 minutes before the game when the team is in the locker room doing final preparations.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry thinks that LSU needs to change how their athletic teams operate.
“My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag !
It is…
— Jeff Landry (@JeffLandry) April 2, 2024
“However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag!”
The Republican lawmaker wants student players to face harsh consequences for failing to comply.
“It is time that all college boards, including Regent, put a policy in place that student athletes be present for the national anthem or risk their athletic scholarship,” he wrote. “This is a matter of respect that all collegiate coaches should instill.”
Not everyone agreed with Landry’s assessment and plenty of commenters hit back with criticism on X.
“This is some North Korea crap,” someone protested. “You’re literally suggesting people be forced to be present for a pre-game anthem, which, if we’re being honest, has always been an odd practice.”
“Outside of national competitions or major events, most countries don’t do this,” they added.
However, many LSU fans were turned off by the team failing to come to the court for the national anthem.
“Stand up and put your f***ing hand on you hearts you Pri-Madona MF, and respect the men and women who died for your sorry asses to be standing on that court, with that uniform, with that great university paying for your education, and all these people cheering you on! Shall I go on?” One critic wrote. “Mulkey needs to change her pre-game!”
“I’ve been an LSU fan since 1958,” another posted. “I live and breathe purple and Gold. I’m also a Vietnam era veteran who loves this country. I just learned about the disrespect Mulkey and her team show for America and those who sacrificed so much.”
“I’m glad they lost to Iowa,” the veteran continued. “If they continue this ‘routine’ to snub the National Anthem, I hope they never win another game. The AD and Mulkey should be fired for allowing this ‘routine.”