LSU's Hailey Van Lith defends teammates, calls LA Times column 'racist' after 'dirty debutantes' jab

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LSU guard Hailey Van Lith came to the defense of her team on Sunday after a Los Angeles Times column described the Tigers women’s basketball team as "dirty debutantes," saying that perception was "racist."

Before the Tigers faced UCLA on Saturday for their Sweet 16 matchup – they won 78-69 with Flau’Jae Johnson leading the way with 24 points – the column was published by the L.A. Times. 

Van Lith, who is White, regrets reading the column because it "can crush your soul a little bit." However, she had her teammates’ backs when discussing it ahead of the Tigers’ Elite Eight game against Iowa on Monday night.  

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LSU's Hailey Van Lith is shown during the game against Tennessee on February 25, 2024, at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"We do have a lot of Black women on this team, and unfortunately, that bias does exist still today, and a lot of the people that are making those comments are being racist towards my teammates," Van Lith said, per ESPN. "I'm in a unique situation where I see with myself, I'll talk trash, and I'll get a different reaction than if Angel [Reese] talks trash. I have a duty to my teammates to have their back. Some of the words that were used in that article were very sad and upsetting."

"Calling us the ‘dirty debutantes,’ that has nothing to do with sports. That's not motivating."

The L.A. Times removed the "dirty debutantes" language from the column later on Saturday, saying in a statement, per ESPN, that "it did not meet Times editorial standards."

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