LSU’s women’s basketball team walked off the floor before the national anthem was played Monday night in their Elite Eight matchup against rival Iowa.
Iowa’s players stood respectfully for the anthem.
LSU Women’s Basketball Team skipped the National Anthem
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 2, 2024
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
🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/ctskb0GXIC
LSU women’s basketball team left the court as the national anthem was being played…
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) April 2, 2024
Iowa women’s basketball team stayed, stood and joined hands. pic.twitter.com/x8YE4ljk7j
A Baton Rouge reporter said LSU is never on the court for the anthem.
LSU is never on the court for the National Anthem https://t.co/tfsDAgdOjn
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) April 1, 2024
After the game, LSU coach Kim Mulkey said her team’s decision to leave the floor was not “intentional” and just part of her team’s “routine.” She added that she is unaware of when the anthem is played.
In case you were wondering, LSU lost. The Lady Hawkeyes beat the defending national champion Lady Tigers, 94-87. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark drained nine 3-pointers on her way to a 41-12-7 stat line.
Caitlin Clark, #22 of the Iowa Hawkeyes, celebrates after beating the LSU Tigers 94-87 in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on April 01, 2024, in Albany, New York. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LSU star Angel Reese, who mocked Caitlin Clark last year when LSU beat them for the national championship by pointing to her ring finger, had a heck of a game but fouled out before all was said and done.
Angel Reese, #10 of the LSU Tigers, dribbles with the ball against the UCLA Bruins during the first half in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 30, 2024, in Albany, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
No, Caitlin Clark did not return the favor by mocking Reese.
Whether Angel Reese returns to LSU remains to be seen. Caitlin Clark announced earlier this year that she plans to enter the WNBA Draft.