How the LSU Tigers have transformed women’s basketball

This year, women’s basketball has grown at an unprecedented rate. The LSU Tigers women’s basketball team remains at the forefront of such growth.

The 2022-23 LSU Tigers women’s basketball team was exceptional. Not only did they win the program’s first national championship, but they have been a critical factor in the growth of women’s basketball.

Before this season, women’s basketball got little coverage in national media. However, this season, we have seen the shift with a record number of fans tuning in to watch the national championship. Much credit is owed to the LSU Tigers and their story. The swagger they bring, combined with the Tigers’ pure talent, was spectacular from the season opener to the final buzzer.

Baton Rouge is the place for any female athlete who wants to compete at a high level in front of fans who genuinely care about their success. The LSU Tigers women’s basketball team is a prime example of that. Just look at the number of fans supporting the Lady Tigers in their championship parade.

LSU women’s college basketball players and fans broke multiple records this year. First, Tiger fans broke the Maravich Center attendance record during the ‘whiteout game’ against Tennessee. Over 15,000 fans supported the Lady Tigers in their win over the Vols.

Next, we saw the women’s national title viewership record fall. The game versus Iowa saw 9.9 million viewers, the most for a collegiate women’s basketball game ever. This number beat viewership for events such as the Stanley Cup, the Orange Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, and the men’s national championship game.

LSU women’s basketball reached over 750 million people across social media accounts. Freshman Flau’jae Johnson and Sophomore Angel Reese also saw their Instagram accounts hit one million followers following the national championship.

Numbers aside, there’s another conversation about the LSU Tigers’ impact on the game off the court.

Although some people on the internet have claimed the LSU women are ‘classless,’ true Tiger fans know how much these women have done for the sport and the young kids looking up to them.

“I didn’t even realize how big of an impact I’ve made on so many little girls,” said Angel Reese.

"“I’ll ask them, ‘why do you love me?’ and they’ll say, ‘Because you are who you are. You’re you’. That’s the biggest trait I carry. Be who you are, and don’t back down to anyone.” -Angel Reese"

Senior Alexis Morris also commented on what she recognizes as her place as a societal role model. “Hopefully, the kids in the younger generation can look to me and be like, ‘I can be somebody,’” Morris said. “It don’t matter, girl or boy.”

These ladies have taken it upon themselves to be role models to the younger generation. It sucks to see how much hate these women get for being ‘bad sports’ because they talked trash in the most significant moment of their lives. Trash talk is part of every sport.

When Iowa did it, it was fantastic and fun to watch. When LSU did it, it was bad sportsmanship. Let the media keep hating; they can’t stand seeing LSU win.

The LSU Tigers women’s basketball team was so much fun to watch all season. They heard the chatter about their cupcake schedule all year and beat the odds. I have rarely found myself more proud of a team than I am of these women. Kim Mulkey and the Tigers are just getting started, so sit down, grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show.