LSU women’s basketball came under fire Monday night after the team did not show up for the national anthem before its final regional game against the Iowa Hawkeyes.
A video from OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske showed Iowa players holding hands while playing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” LSU left the court just before the national anthem was played.
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Angel Reese of the LSU Lady Tigers high-fives after playing against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on April 1, 2024 at MVP Arena in Albany, New York. (Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photo, Getty Images)
Iowa State won 97-84 behind Caitlin Clark’s 41 points.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey was asked after the game why the team didn’t come for the national anthem. Mulkey described it as a “routine.”
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the national anthem was played,” Mulkey said. via outkick. “We have kind of a routine when (players) are on the floor and leave at the 12-minute mark (before a game).
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The LSU Tigers gather before the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament on April 1, 2024 in Albany. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“I don’t know, we go into the game and we do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, but listen, it wasn’t something we did on purpose.”
The Comeback noted that LSU was not present for the national anthem last year before playing against Iowa in the national championship. It also sparked controversy on social media.
Kim Mulkey of the LSU Lady Tigers watches a game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at MVP Arena in Albany on April 1, 2024. (Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photo, Getty Images)
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The Tigers, the defending national champions, tied the score at the half, but Clark turned it around in the third quarter. Clark had a great game, hitting nine 3-pointers.
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