LSU guard Hailey Van Lith passionately defended her team on Sunday in response to a column in the Los Angeles Times that labeled the players as “dirty debutantes.” Van Lith strongly denounced those who view her teammates in a negative light, asserting that such perceptions are rooted in racism.
Van Lith expressed that the team had come across the commentary prior to their Sweet 16 game against UCLA on Saturday. She expressed her regret in reading it, as it can be disheartening to hear such negative remarks from individuals who are unfamiliar with them.
“We have a significant number of Black women on our team, and it is unfortunate that such bias still persists today. Many individuals making these comments are racist towards my teammates,” expressed Van Lith, who is white. “I find myself in a unique position where the response I receive when talking trash is different from what Angel [Reese] experiences. I feel a responsibility to support my teammates and stand up for them. The use of certain words in that article was deeply disheartening and distressing.”
“We shouldn’t be labeled as the dirty debutantes; that term has no relevance to sports and lacks motivation. However, I personally believe that people perceive us differently because we have a significant number of Black women on our team who possess a confident attitude and enjoy engaging in friendly banter. This seems to unsettle some individuals. Nevertheless, I stand by my teammates because they remain authentic to themselves and true to their character. I will always support them.”
In her postgame news conference after LSU’s 78-69 win against UCLA, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey passionately criticized a column that characterized the game as a battle between good and evil. Mulkey described the column as “sexist,” “awful,” and “wrong.”
Growing up in Wenatchee, Washington, Hailey Van Lith embarked on her basketball journey at the University of Louisville. However, after three years, she decided to transfer to LSU for the past season. Van Lith observed how people criticized the Tigers during their national championship run, particularly focusing on the discussions surrounding teammate Reese. The attention was drawn to Reese when she pointed at her ring finger and mimicked John Cena’s iconic “You can’t see me” hand gesture, waving her hand across her face towards Caitlin Clark.
During her prep days, Van Lith noticed a double standard as well.
“I’ve personally witnessed it during my time at Louisville, and it’s been a recurring theme throughout my life,” Van Lith shared. “Being one of the few white individuals on the team, I have a unique perspective on the matter. Often, individuals residing in homogenous communities tend to believe that racism no longer exists in today’s world. However, I have personally witnessed and experienced it myself, as well as seeing it affect my teammates and friends.”
“When I return to my predominantly white hometown, I make a point of sharing these experiences. In high school, there was an attempt to cancel the Martin Luther King Jr. assembly due to time constraints, despite having ample time for other holidays. Given that our high school had a majority white student body, no one seemed to take issue with this. As someone in a unique position, I feel it is my duty to speak up when such incidents occur.”
Reese acknowledged that the Times’ commentary is not the first instance where her team has been portrayed in a certain way. However, she emphasized that she cannot let herself be concerned about how she and her team are perceived.
Reese expressed how the team finds motivation in negative comments and praises. He emphasized that such remarks fuel their hunger for success and drive them to achieve even greater victories. Reese appreciates being a part of LSU and cherishes the supportive environment. He acknowledges that people will always have their own opinions and perceptions, but he chooses not to let them affect him. Ultimately, Reese’s focus remains on his team’s performance, and he doesn’t let outside comments bother him.
The Los Angeles Times has removed certain language from the column, including the reference to “dirty debutantes,” on Saturday. In a statement, the newspaper explained that the language did not meet their editorial standards. ESPN has reached out to the newspaper for comment, but has not received a response yet.
