sport news LSU coach Kim Mulkey APOLOGIZES after her women's basketball team left the ... trends now
Kim Mulkey, the coach of LSU's women's basketball team, apologized after her stars left the court before the American national anthem was played in the NCAA game they would go on to lose against Iowa.
The LSU Tigers were beaten 94-87 by the Hawkeyes in Albany, where the latter's star player Caitlin Clark put on a 41-point masterclass to help her team advance to the Final Four of this year's NCAA tournament.
Yet earlier in the evening, footage on social media appeared to show that LSU players skipped the national anthem before it played out at Times Union Center.
Iowa stars, meanwhile, stood hand-in-hand while taking in the Star-Spangled Banner just minutes before the Elite8 fixture.
When asked about the incident in the aftermath of her team's loss, Mulkey said: 'Honestly, I don't even know when the anthem was played.
Kim Mulkey apologized for her players leaving the court before the national anthem
LSU stars sparked outrage prior to their game against Iowa (left) on Monday night after leaving the court before the American national anthem was played
The LSU Tigers, led by Angel Reese, would go on to lose the game against Iowa 94-87
The national anthem played out in Albany before Iowa and LSU's Elite8 showdown
'We kind of have a routine when they're on the floor and they come off at the 12-minute mark.
'I don't know, we come in and we do our pregame stuff. I'm sorry, listen, that's nothing intentionally done.'
After a video showing their empty end of the court surfaced online, fans were quick to hit out at LSU for not listening to the anthem on the night.
'LSU is a complete disgrace,' one said 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 put: 'They are a disgrace and should be kicked off the team!'
A fourth claimed:
