On Monday night, LSU’s women’s basketball team, which was about to play the Iowa Hawkeyes in Albany, New York, in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA tournament, left the court before the national anthem was played.
While the anthem was being played, the Hawkeyes team stood on the court holding hands.
Iowa players holding hands during the American National Anthem. LSU players left the court before the anthem was performed. pic.twitter.com/GhCLHUXiBX
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) April 1, 2024
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine where we are on the floor and then they come off at the 12-minute mark. … We come in and do our pre-game stuff. I’m sorry. Listen, that’s nothing intentionally done,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey said in an interview after the game.
Kim Mulkey said her team didn't intentionally leave the floor prior to the playing of the United States National Anthem.
"Honestly, I don't even know when the anthem was played. We kind of have a routine [for leaving the court at a certain time]." pic.twitter.com/JclJExC1Ym
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) April 2, 2024
The game, which Iowa won 94-87, was a rematch of last year’s NCAA Championship game, which LSU won 102-85. Iowa now will play in the Final Four.
Last year, the LSU women’s team did not appear during the playing of the national anthem before their game against Iowa in the national championship in Dallas.
“LSU is never on the court for the National Anthem. … If you ever go to an actual LSU game you’ll see that they’re never on the court for the anthem. It’s that simple. I’ve covered them for 3 years & they’ve never been,” Baton Rouge sports reporter Chessa Bouche stated.
LSU is never on the court for the National Anthem https://t.co/tfsDAgdOjn
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) April 1, 2024
If you ever go to an actual LSU game you’ll see that they’re never on the court for the anthem. It’s that simple. I’ve covered them for 3 years & they’ve never been.
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) April 2, 2024
Iowa star Caitlin Clark scored 41 points and dished out 12 assists in the game on Monday; LSU star Angel Reese fouled out in the fourth quarter. It was the fifth time this year Clark scored more than 40 points.
“She’s just a generational player, and she just makes everybody around her better,” Mulkey said of Clark. “That’s what the great ones do. … What did I say to her? I said, I sure am glad you’re leaving. I said, Girl, you something else. Never seen anything like it.”
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“Caitlin’s very skilled,” LSU guard Hailey Van Lilth, who guarded Clark, said. “She’s a great player. She hit some tough shots. There’s not a whole lot you can do about some of the threes she hit.”