The controversy about the LSU Tigers not being on the court for the national anthem prior to their Elite Eight matchup against Iowa has taken center stage. We’ve since seen politicians throw their hats in the ring, with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry chiming in and taking aim at Kim Mulkey and her team while demanding standing for the anthem, a scene reminiscent of 2016.
Since then, reporter Chessa Bouche (a sports reporter for BRProud.com, a joint local news digital site from Nexstar-owned WGMB FOX 44 and WVLA NBC Local 33 in Baton Rouge) has pointed the finger in OutKick’s direction. Bouche accused the site founded by Clay Travis of “pushing a narrative” with its coverage of the LSU-Iowa game and trying to pinpoint that focus on LSU missing the national anthem.
Of course, it all started with OutKick’s Dan Zaksheske posting a video on Twitter/X showing the Tigers absent during the playing of the anthem.
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
During the post-game press conference, Zaksheske questioned Mulkey about her team’s absence for the national anthem. Mulkey denied it was intentional.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” she said. “We kind of have a routine [for leaving the court at a certain time].”
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
Bouche has since been very adamant on social media that LSU has never been on the court for the national anthem and that this has been drummed up for controversy because of all the eyes on the game. She even offered a “crystal clear” clarifying statement on Wednesday.
“LSU Women’s Basketball did not ‘walk out’ during the national anthem (I was there) during the Elite 8,” she said. “OutKick, a ‘National Media’ outlet, is pushing a narrative that LSU is protesting the anthem. That’s not true. LSU follows a pregame routine that includes leaving the court at the 12-minute mark. What most people don’t understand is that different venues & TV slots impact when the national anthem is played. So it’s not always the same time.
“With that being said, why didn’t this same media outlet report how UConn & USC (the game directly after LSU/Iowa) both were NOT on the court for the national anthem?
“Moreover, it’s a common practice in college sports that teams are in the lockerroom during the anthem. MULTIPLE schools do this. The same is true for LSU football.
Just wanted to make sure I was CRYSTAL CLEAR for y’all.#LSU pic.twitter.com/nNHjrYGVgd
— Chessa Bouche (@chessabouche) April 3, 2024
An OutKick spokesperson told Mediaite that Bouche’s assertion that the outlet was pushing a narrative was “inaccurate.”
“It is false to assert OutKick pushed a narrative that LSU was protesting the national anthem,” the spokesperson told Mediaite. “We reported what was taking place on the court before the game and then asked LSU coach Kim Mulkey about it after the game. We reported her comments explaining why her team was not on the court. This is an inaccurate accusation as we only reported the facts.”
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.