Players ejected as skirmish breaks out late in South Carolina-LSU championship game
Sunday’s SEC championship game between South Carolina and LSU women’s basketball was delayed in the fourth quarter after an on-court skirmish.
The clock stopped with 2:08 remaining in the fourth quarter and USC leading LSU 73-66 after an on-court altercation between various South Carolina and LSU players.
LSU guard Flau’jae Johnson was called for an intentional foul on USC guard MiLaysia Fulwiley. According to replay, Johnson then pushed South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins. In response to that, USC’s Kamilla Cardoso approached Johnson and knocked her to the ground, which led to both benches clearing.
After the altercation, both coaching staffs scrambled to break up the scrum at midcourt. USC coach Dawn Staley and LSU coach Kim Mulkey, as well as various police and security personnel, helped de-escalate the skirmish.
South Carolina ending up winning the game 79-72.
“I want to apologize for us playing a part in that,” Staley told ESPN after the game. “That’s not who we are. That’s not what we’re about.”
A fan also jumped on the court during the altercation. According to the ESPN broadcast, that fan was the brother of Johnson, the LSU guard knocked down by Cardoso.
After a 20-minute video review at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, officials ejected multiple players, including Cardoso.
According to the in-arena public address announcer, Johnson was whistled for an intentional (non-disqualifying) foul; Cardoso was ejected; the entire LSU bench was ejected; and everyone on USC’s bench minus Sania Feagin and Te-Hina Paopao was ejected.
According to the ESPN broadcast, Cardoso will miss South Carolina’s first NCAA Tournament game as a result of the fight. The broadcast initially said that every player who was ejected (essentially the entire LSU and USC bench) would also miss the first NCAA Tournament game before correcting that report, which was erroneous, and clarifying that only Cardoso would miss an NCAA Tournament game as a result.
This story was originally published March 10, 2024 at 5:17 PM.
