Furious LSU fans expressed their displeasure to Kim Mulkey over the women’s basketball team’s absence during the national anthem before their Elite 8 game against the Iowa Hawkeyes on Monday.
The Iowa team stood hand-in-hand on one side of the field at the Times Union Center in Albany, while Mulkey’s side retreated to the locker room during the Star-Spangled Banner.
After the Tigers fell 94-87 to their rivals, Mulkey said, “Honestly, I don’t even know when the national anthem was played. We have a kind of routine when they are on the floor, and they come out after twelve minutes. Don’t know. We come in and do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, listen, none of that was done on purpose.”
However, some LSU fans were outraged by her absence, while others even called for her firing.
“I look up a few news sites and it says the LSU WB Team was not present or standing for the national anthem?” One user wrote further Tiger feces.
Furious LSU fans called for Kim Mulkey’s firing after he skipped the national anthem on Monday
LSU stars sparked outrage ahead of their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after leaving the court before the US national anthem was played
Fans took to Tiger Droppings to express their displeasure with Mulkey and her routine
‘Are you joking? WTF Kim? What am I missing? We live in the deep south and you’re telling me LSU did this crap. Can someone please help me understand what happened. “I absolutely don’t understand why LSU would do this intentionally or unintentionally.”
Another user called for Mulkey and athletic director Scott Woodward to be fired over the routine. The fan also said that after decades of genuine support, he will no longer advocate for the Tigers.
“I’ve been an LSU fan since 1958,” the user wrote. ‘I live and breathe purple and gold. I am also a Vietnam era veteran who loves this country. I just heard about the disrespect Mulkey and her team show for America and those who have sacrificed so much.
“I’m glad they lost to Iowa. If they continue this ‘routine’ of dissing the national anthem, I hope they never win another game. The AD and Mulkey should be fired for allowing this ‘routine’.
A third user shared the same sentiment, labeling Mulkey a ‘pri-madonna MF’ and calling on the coach to change her pre-match ritual.
“If that’s the case, I’ll never look at their pathetic asses again!!
Before their 94-87 loss, the Tigers appeared to skip a rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner
Iowa guard Caitlin Clark clocked in a game-high 41 points to send the defending champions home
‘Stand up and put your damn hand on your heart, you Pri-Madona MF, and respect the men and women who died for your pathetic asses to be on that field, with that uniform, with that great university that pays for your education , and all these people cheering you on! Shall I continue?’
“Mulkey needs to change her pre-game!”
Baton Rouge Proud News reporter Chessa Bouche said Monday night on X that the team is always in the locker room when the national anthem is played before games.
“If you ever go to a real LSU game, you’ll see they never stand on the field for the national anthem. It’s that simple. “I covered them for three years and that has never happened,” she said.
“Neither LSU basketball nor LSU football are after the national anthem. That is the point. This was not a one-off incident. Clarifying to the national media who don’t cover either team day in and day (sic) out. That’s all!’
A follower replied to Bouche, saying, “Clearly a lot of people care. If you’re going to do this, be prepared for the heat and the hate. It is their right not to be present for the anthem, and it is also the right of critics to hate on it.”
The Tigers won the national championship game last year against Clark and the Hawkeyes
A photo of LSU absent during the national anthem against Miami in 2023 resurfaced
Bouch replied, “Well said,” with the 100 underlined in red emoji.
A photo of Mulkey and the team absent during the national anthem in the 2023 NCAA Tournament against the Miami Hurricanes also surfaced. The photo didn’t help Mulkey’s case, however, as it showed dismayed fans how long the team had been doing the routine.
In a rematch of last year’s national championship game, the defending champions were outscored by Lisa Bluder’s Hawkeyes.
Iowa rallied behind Caitlin Clark and her 41-point performance as her historic season continued. Clark and company will face UConn in the Final Four, with the winner meeting NC State or South Carolina in the title game.