Newspaper edits column about LSU vs. UCLA game after Tigers coach Kim Mulkey slams game as sexist

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – The Los Angeles Times has criticized Tigers coach Kim Mulkey for calling her column about the LSU women’s basketball team sexist and harmful, published last week before a game against UCLA. I received and edited it.

Mulkey defended his players after they were called “villains” and “dirty debutants” at a game. Works first released on Friday It compared the Sweet 16 game between LSU and UCLA to a battle of good versus evil.

“How can people attack children like that?” she said Saturday. “You don’t have to like our play. You don’t have to like our trash talk. You don’t have to like any of it. We’re okay with it. But I’m a mother, a grandmother, and As a youth leader, I cannot sit here and allow someone to say something like that.”

Late Saturday, the Times removed those references, as well as one that compared UCLA’s team to “milk and cookies,” and republished the column with the following note: “An earlier version of this commentary did not meet The Times’ editorial standards. It has been updated.”

UCLA coach Cori Close apologizes Retweet the column on social mediaSome say: “We would never want to promote anything that would tear groups of people apart in our great game.”

Mulkey said Sunday that she was only generally aware of the reaction to her comments the day before.

“Someone said that the LA Times had updated it, rewritten it, did something, and they did it last night at about 10:20 or 10 o’clock, so I said OK.” she said. “That was about it.”

Mulkey’s players praised her on Saturday for being herself on and off the court, with Angel Reese labeling herself and her teammates as “good villains” who change their games and support each other.

Haley Van Lith told reporters Sunday that that includes having to address bias.

“We have a lot of black women on this team, and unfortunately that bias still exists, and many of the people making these comments are racist towards their teammates.” said Van Lith, who is white. “I’m in a unique situation, as I can see for myself. If I talk trash, I’m going to get a different reaction than if an Angel talks trash. I have the ability to support my teammates. I have an obligation. Some of the language used in that article was very sad and upsetting.”

Mulkey reiterated on Sunday that he would no longer read the newspaper articles that threatened to sue for defamation.

She was the subject of a profile published Saturday. washington post In it, family members and former players are quoted about her personality and the way she runs the basketball program.

Mulkey’s father and sister have said they haven’t spoken to Mulkey in years, while others have suggested she was at best uncomfortable with the LGTBQ+ community, including her own players.

“The lawyers will look at it and call me once this season is over and say this is our next step,” Mulkey said Sunday. “I haven’t read anything like that.”

A few days before the article was published, Mulkey threatened to sue the newspaper for what he said would be a “hit piece.” Instead, it was a wide-ranging profile that explored both the positive and negative aspects of her life.

after her team Won against UCLA 78-69 On Saturday, when a reporter told her the article had appeared an hour before the game, she responded with false surprise. (She had been asked about this on ESPN before her tipoff.)

“Imagine,” she said. “I’m sure you all saw it and thought it would click or be a distraction. No, ma’am, I haven’t read it and I probably won’t.”

This profile came during a season in which LSU suffered a surprising loss to Colorado, began the defense of its national title, and in the holiday tournament, Reese did not play due to unspecified “locker room issues.” Mulkey declined to make the announcement public..

Reese spoke generally about his mental health and not wanting his actions to reflect negatively on the team.

The Tigers bounced back to have a solid season, Lost to South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference Tournament Finals.They are NCAA tournament As the No. 3 seed, UConn is aiming for its first consecutive championship since winning four in a row in 2016. LSU will play Caitlin Clark and top-seeded Iowa Monday, a rematch of last year’s national title game.

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AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed to this report.

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AP March Madness Bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket/ And scope of application: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

Pat Eaton Robb, Associated Press