LSU vs. Iowa: How Double Standards Still Rule Women’s Basketball

By: Ryann Rodney

Even days after LSU’s win against Iowa 105-82 in the women’s national championship game, fans, non-fans, and media are still discussing the game.

However, controversial calls and last-minute efforts are not at the top of mind. Instead, the focus is on a gesture that LSU star forward Angel Reese made when she waved her hand in front of her face, stared at Iowa guard Caitlin Clark, and pointed toward her ring finger.

Within mere seconds, the internet exploded. Reese, also known as “Bayou Barbie,” was called “classless,” “ghetto,” and “idiotic,” amongst other things. Some even went as far as saying that they “lost all respect for her…” in response to a simple gesture. However, Caitlin Clark made the same gesture to a losing team a week prior, yet she was praised for her passion and determination. ESPN even went so far as to air a segment called “Caitlin Clark: the Queen of Clapbacks.” While the meaning of this gesture is up to the interpreter, the words of Caitlin Clark need no interpretation. In a previous game, she said, “You’re down fifteen points, shut up,” to a player on another team. One thing is for sure: there’s a double standard in women’s basketball that cannot go unnoticed.

In interviews, when asked about the altercation, Angel Reese said, “Caitlin Clark is a hell of a player for sure, but I don’t take disrespect lightly,” Clark, a white woman, was celebrated for her taunting of an opposing team. In contrast, Reese, a black woman, was crucified by the court of public opinion with gawk and slander. While many continue their aimless hate train toward Reese, some have pointed out that the only difference between Clark and Reese is their race. Reese was also asked about the blatant double standards, to which she said, “All year, I was critiqued about who I was… I don’t fit the narrative. I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. Y’all told me that all year. But when other people do it, y’all say nothing… So this was for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in.”

However, one of the most appalling comments regarding the situation came from former MSNBC reporter Keith Olbermann, who called Reese a “fucking idiot.” He later apologized for being unaware of the full context, admitting that he doesn’t follow basketball. Yet, he did not apologize for insulting Reese; in his mind, the problem is that Reese and Clark “can be classless winners who are willing to overshadow their own team’s victory.”

The altercation and response following the event show that Great White Hope is not exclusively male; it also impacts women. When white athletes make it far in a sport dominated by black athletes, the star gets bathed in additional praise. And that’s not to say those athletes aren’t talented. However, they would never get the same attention if the roles were reversed. To many, Caitlin Clark is another Kevin Love or Larry Bird in this trope.

This controversy shows that although more people are watching women’s basketball (in fact, the women’s final was on primetime television on ABC for the first time with 12.5 million viewers at its peak), viewers are still uncomfortable with the idea of women in sports playing as competitively and aggressively as men do. One commentator even went far enough to compile moments of celebration by men in sports, and what’s evident is that those moments are seen as a part of the game for them. Men’s silly dance moves or chants are celebrated, while women are ridiculed and told to calm down for the same celebrations. This can be seen in women’s soccer and tennis – the U.S. team was shamed for their 2013 World Cup win, and Serena Williams was held to unattainable standards regarding her emotional responses. The LSU vs. Iowa situation is just another page in the story of double standards for women that’s been going on for a long time – this hypocrisy is always present but only amplified when a black woman is added; words like “classless” and “ghetto” are words that have been used to halt and probit black joy and celebration.

While the NCAA is celebrating the 50th year of its women’s competition, a divide exists between black and white women regarding public perception and opportunities. White players are considered tough and fundamentally sound, and Black players are seen as flashy and trashy brawlers. Yet, with stereotypes and barriers present, Angel Reese has still managed to persevere, a feat that is not something to be forgotten about or overshadowed by the cards she was dealt.

Images from USA Today and Market Watch