Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called for revoking the athletic scholarships of student-athletes in the Bayou State who are absent during the national anthem.
This comes in the aftermath of the Louisiana State University women’s basketball team not being present for the national anthem ahead of its April 1 game against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team, led by phenom Caitlin Clark.
“My mother coached women’s high school basketball during the height of desegregation, no one has a greater respect for the sport and for Coach Mulkey. However, above respect for that game is a deeper respect for those that serve to protect us and unite us under one flag!” wrote Mr. Landry in his post.
LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey told reporters after her team lost, 94–87, that her team missing the “Star Spangled Banner” was unintentional.
“Honestly, I don’t even know when the anthem was played,” Ms. Mulkey said.
“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.”
With the victory, the Iowa team moves on to the Final Four in the March Madness tournament and faces the University of Connecticut Huskies women’s basketball team on April 5.
Ms. Clark, in Iowa vs. LSU game, made nine 3-pointers and finished with 41 points and 12 assists.
“It’s amazing to be back in the Final Four. It’s so hard to get back there,” Ms. Clark said. “This region was really hard, but we told ourselves we are the one seed for a reason.”
The ESPN telecast of the game got 12.3 million viewers, a record for the most-watched non-NFL game.
Ms. Clark, who also scored 41 points in the regional final between her team and LSU last year, and Angel Reese of LSU put on a memorable show for the sold-out crowd and the millions watching.
“I think it’s just great for the sport, just being able to be a part of history. Like I said, no matter which way it went tonight, I know this was going to be a night for the ages,” said Ms. Reese, who had 17 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out with 1:45 left. “And just being able to be a part of history is great. Playing against another great player, of course, is always amazing.”
Ms. Clark has already declared for this year’s WNBA draft. Ms. Reese, too, will have a decision to make about whether to turn pro or come back for one more season.
With the game tied at 45 after an entertaining first half, Ms. Clark took over in the third quarter. The NCAA Division I all-time scoring leader hit four 3-pointers, each deeper than the previous one. Her fourth of the quarter, from her signature logo range, made it 61–52. It also was the 538th of her career, which made her the all-time leader in that category among NCAA Division I players, passing Oklahoma’s Taylor Robertson.
