South Carolina & N.C. State Both Stood For National Anthem Prior To Final Four

CLEVELAND – The LSU Tigers garnered headlines last week at the Elite Eight when the team remained in the locker room during the playing of the United States National Anthem. Their opponents, the Iowa Hawkeyes, stood arm-in-arm on the court.

Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey insisted after the game that it wasn't "intentionally done" and it was just part of their "routine" to be in the locker room 12 minutes before the game starts – which is when the anthem was played. 

South Carolina used to have a similar routine. Back in 2022, head coach Dawn Staley and her team came under fire for not attending the national anthem prior to their Final Four game. 

Staley took umbrage with the idea that her team was protesting the anthem, and said that was part of their routine. 

"I think the national anthem was played at the 12- or 10-minute mark, and that's just not the time that we're out on the court because of our pregame ritual," Staley said in 2022. 

On Friday night, both South Carolina and their opponents – the NC State Wolfpack – remained on the floor for the entirety of the national anthem. 

South Carolina players entered the court over 30 minutes before tip-off. In contrast, NC State didn't enter the court until about 20 minutes before tip-off. However, both teams remained on the court without returning to their locker room prior to the game starting.

Prior to tip-off of the Women's Final Four, both South Carolina and NC State remained on the court and stood for the National Anthem.

(Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

The NCAA did not change the pregame routine from the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 – the anthem started right as the clock hit the 12-minute mark prior to tip-off. 

I asked a South Carolina beat writer if it was normal for them to be out there for 30 minutes prior to the game and stand for the national anthem, and if they did so last week. 

He rolled his eyes, let out a huge scoff and said, "I have no idea what that matters, but yes they were out there." 

Based on the responses over the past week, including from the Governor of Louisiana, it does matter.