LSU guard Hailey Van Lith recently came to the defense of her team after a Los Angeles Times column described the Tigers women’s basketball team as “dirty debutantes,” which she called “racist.” The column was published before the Tigers faced UCLA in the Sweet 16, a game they went on to win. Van Lith, who is White, expressed regret at reading the column and spoke out against the biased perception of her Black teammates, saying she has a duty to support them.
The L.A. Times later removed the “dirty debutantes” language from the column, stating that it did not meet editorial standards. Despite this, Van Lith continued to speak out in support of her teammates, emphasizing that the criticism was unjust and hurtful. She pointed out that the criticism stemmed from a bias against her Black teammates and their confident attitudes on the court, and she pledged to stand by them in the face of such unfair treatment.
Van Lith shared her experiences of facing similar criticism in the past, both at Louisville and in high school, where she often stood out as one of the few White players. She emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing racism, especially in situations where it can go unnoticed or be dismissed. Head coach Kim Mulkey also condemned the column, calling it sexist and offensive, and defending her players against the unfair attacks.
Lady Tigers star Angel Reese echoed Van Lith’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of unity within the team and their shared goal of helping women’s basketball grow. Reese expressed her complete trust and support for her teammates and coaches, dismissing the opinions of outsiders and focusing on the strong bond within the team. Both players stood firm in their defense of their team and their commitment to standing by each other in the face of bias and unfair criticism.
