Kim Mulkey, coach of the LSU women’s basketball team, apologized after her stars left the court before the American national anthem played in the NCAA game they would lose against Iowa.
The LSU Tigers were defeated 94-87 by the Hawkeyes in Albany, where the latter’s star player, Caitlin Clark, produced a 41-point masterclass to help her team advance to the Final Four of this year’s NCAA Tournament. anus.
However, earlier in the evening, images on social media appeared to show LSU players skipping the national anthem before it was played at the Times Union Center.
Meanwhile, the Iowa stars stood hand in hand as they watched the Star-Spangled Banner just minutes before the Elite8 game.
When asked about the incident after his team’s loss, Mulkey said, “Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played.
Kim Mulkey apologized for his players leaving the field before the national anthem
The LSU stars sparked outrage before their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after walking off the court before the US national anthem played.
The LSU Tigers, led by Angel Reese, would lose the game against Iowa 94-87.
The national anthem played in Albany before Iowa and LSU’s Elite8 showdown
‘We have kind of a routine when they’re on the court and they come out at the 12-minute mark.
‘I don’t know, we go in and do our pre-game stuff. Sorry, listen, that’s nothing done intentionally.
Baton Rouge Proud News reporter Chessa Bouche said on X Monday night that it’s always the time in the locker room when the national anthem is played before games.
After a video showing their empty side of the court surfaced online, fans were quick to criticize LSU for not playing the anthem that night.
“LSU is a complete disgrace,” said one on X. “Their entire team should be expelled.”
Another wrote: ‘Bad optics for the LSU team. How could they do such a thing?’
A third said: ‘They are a disgrace and should be kicked off the team!’
A fourth stated: “If the team does not perform during all parts of the game, including the anthem, disqualification is the only way forward.” No more nonsense.
Miami Hurricanes line up for anthem without LSU for their March 2023 NCAA game
Fans were left furious after images of LSU stars not hearing the anthem emerged on social media.
While one simply said, “Glad to see LSU got their asses handed to them.”
In a rematch of the most-watched game in women’s basketball history, the 2023 NCAA Championship, coach Lisa Bluder’s Hawkeyes topped Mulkey’s Tigers for a 94-87 victory.
But Mulkey said when he reflects on how his team performed during the competition, he would only feel one thing.
“Proud,” she said. ‘I’m going to feel very proud. I’m going to think about the little things we overcame that put us in an Elite 8.
“You are one game away from returning to the Final Four. Eventually I’ll think about how we got here. How do we get here? What did we do as a team and as a staff to get to this moment?
But Coach Mulkey and her players have made headlines on and off the court. Mulkey herself threatened to sue the Washington Post over a “hit article” before it was published over the weekend.
In the story, the LSU coach is accused of clashing with gay members of her former Baylor team, and former players Kelli Griffin and Emily Niemann open up about their time working with her.
Mulkey threatened to sue Washington Post early in tournament over ‘hit article’
Mulkey said she will be proud of LSU when she reflects on her performance in the NCAA.
Griffin alleged that Mulkey made her life “hell” after discovering she was gay, while Neimann recalled her former coach telling her she didn’t have “good looks” after she was seen in public with another woman.
Mulkey claimed to have been unaware of the Post publishing her controversial article when a reporter approached her after its publication.
“You’re telling me something I didn’t know,” Mulkey told ESPN’s Sports Center when asked about the story. ‘So you are the bearer of good news or bad news, however you want to see it.
‘But are you really surprised? Are you really surprised by the timing of it?
‘I can tell you that I haven’t read it, I don’t know if I will read it. I’ll leave that in the hands of my lawyers.
Griffin, who played for Mulkey’s Baylor from 2007 to 2010, believes her former coach only attacked her after finding out she was gay.
Despite calling her an “incredible coach” and admitting that he only moved to Baylor to play with her, he claimed that Mulkey drew attention to her clothing and gave her a suspension that would ultimately end her career only after learning of her sexuality. .