We’re Still Talking About Women’s Basketball!

April 3, 2023  /  0 Comments
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LSU Iowa
Women's Basketball National Championship (Photo for IG)

WOW! What a GREAT March Madness tournament for women’s basketball! Finally, these women are being talked about; good or bad people are talking about women’s basketball! I’m still trying to understand why the national championship game between LSU and Iowa was at 3:30pm and not in prime time on Sunday night, but the game left social media trending about women’s basketball!

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is finally getting respect for being one of the BEST players to ever play college basketball. The final four matchup between Iowa and Dawn Staley’s undefeated South Carolina team did not disappoint. Iowa’s win over South Carolina was the most watched college basketball game on an ESPN network since the 2008 men’s game between Duke and North Carolina. Now that’s making a statement! Clark put on a clinic making history the entire tournament.

Sportsmanship

The world of social media was going nuts talking about the sportsmanship in the national championship game. Most of it was negative towards LSU’s Angel Reese. Again, good or bad, I love that the women’s game is being watched AND talked about. Now, for those that have not watched women’s basketball outside of the NCAA tournament, I can see where Reese could be looked at as ‘bad sportsmanship’. However, that’s not how you should judge her or any other player or team. Reese grew up in Baltimore playing street ball with boys. Running her mouth is a fundamental part of her game and I don’t think she should be crucified for it. She brings a flair that you love or hate and she will not change based on your feelings.

If you breakdown Iowa’s team vs LSU’s team, you have farm girls vs. city girls to emphasize 100% they will play different styles of basketball. Trash talking included. The media and social media attacked Reese, South Carolina players and any female who had long eyelashes or a non-white ponytail hairstyle because they were different. UCONN’s coach Geno Auriemma criticized how physical SC plays and the undertones of calling the SEC bullies for their style of play. But you know what, lashes or no lashes the SEC is tough and they should not apologize for being physical, having personalities or how they look.

You Can’t See Me

Since most of the national conversation has been over the “you can’t see me” hand gesture let’s talk about it. (Mom, this is like saying “you can’t be me”.) This is John Cena’s, the wrestler, move. Caitlin Clark gave the quick hand flash to Louisville and Hailey Van Lith when Iowa beat Louisville in the Elite 8 game. Van Lith, also a white girl who can ball and loves to run her mouth had words during the postgame handshake with Texas guard Sonya Morris. (Pretty sure Van Lith said something like “have fun in Miami” as a dig that Texas’s season was over and they could go to spring break while Louisville was moving to the elite 8.)

Caitlin Clark is subtle, smooth and a quick trash talker and in how she makes her gestures. On the other hand, Angel Reese has the opposite delivery by letting everyone know she is making a statement. She is fueled by making a “you’re too short to stop me” gesture by pressing her hand down. (People have done this to me my whole life and I laugh.) Reese thrives in trash talking and backing it up.  I didn’t grow up trash talking while playing sport. My Dad would have whooped me in public and put me on the bench for the rest of the season. But these kids grew up in a totally different world where they face trash talking from complete strangers on the internet the moment they created an account. I’m not saying one generation is right and one is wrong. To summarize, saying everything about today’s game is different and that’s okay!

Caitlin Clark will have a statue in Iowa City and she knows she is a generational player. Clark doesn’t need your protection. Angel Reese is the Bayou Barbie, she’ll forever wear the crown in Louisiana. Reese doesn’t care if she makes you uncomfortable. In addition, it’s important to mention that this isn’t the first time these two have played against each other. Reese is a Maryland transfer who played in the Big Ten against Clark. There is history on the court between these two that adds to the tension in a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Something to Talk About

I’m still questioning why LSU’s Kim Mulkey did not get a technical for her sideline behavior, but I won’t question her ability to coach women’s basketball. Don’t let the crazy outfits fool you. Kim Mulkey coached Baylor to three national titles. She returned to her home state of Louisiana to take over a team that had only won 9 games the previous season. In her first year at LSU she coached a 26-6 team. In her second season she won LSU’s first ever NCAA basketball title.

Mulkey with her 4th national title is now number three on the all-time list of most national titles. (Geno has 11 and Pat Summitt has 8 national titles.)

In other words, if you are upset about the trash talking in women’s basketball, keep talking. If you are celebrating LSU’s championship, keep talking. Above all, keep talking about women’s basketball.

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