By Jeff Crouere ——Bio and Archives--April 7, 2024

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Caitlin Clark, the Iowa basketball superstar, has broken a multitude of scoring records this year. Her success has also led to record-breaking viewership for women’s college basketball on ESPN. In fact, Iowa’s victory against the University of Connecticut in the Final Four semi-final was the highest rated basketball game of all-time on ESPN.

Because of her incredible success, Clark and her Iowa teammates have become America’s team this year. However, another reason for Iowa’s popularity is their reverence for “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Prior to their highly anticipated rematch with the LSU Tigers last Monday night, Iowa players were on the basketball court holding hands and singing the national anthem. While Iowa’s players were honoring their country, LSU players were in the locker room, as they have been for every game this season and for last year’s national championship game.

Unfortunately, LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey claimed she was unaware of when the national anthem was performed. According to Mulkey, “Honestly, I don't even know when the anthem was played. We have a routine where the team comes off the court at the 12-minute mark and we do our pregame stuff. I’m sorry, listen, that’s nothing intentionally done.”

Her response was not well received by Louisiana’s new Republican Governor, Jeff Landry. He tweeted, “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... above respect for........

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