Ahead of Louisiana State University’s Sweet 16 game vs. UCLA, a Los Angeles Times writer shared an article with harsh comments about the southern state’s team. The journalist made comparisons between the two teams, clearly indicating his support for UCLA. He wrote, “This isn’t just a basketball game, it’s a reckoning. Picking sides goes well beyond school allegiance.” They continued, “Do you prefer America’s sweethearts or its dirty debutantes? Milk and cookies or Louisiana hot sauce? The coach who embraces reporters or the one who attacks them? The tender star player or the one who taunts?” After the article’s publication, many found it inappropriate for the writer to make such comparisons, and the article has since been edited.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey was upset by the comments, speaking on them in a press conference following LSU’s win over UCLA. Mulkey said, “You can criticize coaches all you want, that’s our business…We expect that it comes with the territory, but the one thing I’m not going to let you do, I’m not going to let you attack young people…” Mulkey wasn’t the only one to comment on the article; Reese also threw some shade toward the Los Angeles Times.
Before the game, the LSU star shared a photo to her Instagram Story of milk and cookies vs. hot sauce, nodding to the writer’s comments. Reese wrote over the image, “WE LOVEEE MILK & COOKIES,” insinuating they would dominate UCLA, and to be fair, LSU did win.
