31 May 2023 , 14:05
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LSU Tigers star Sa’Myah Smith revealed she woke up ‘scared’ after fainting during the NCAA champions’ trip to the White House.
LSU defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes last month to clinch the NCAA Tournament title with a 102-85 win at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. It is tradition for the national champions to receive an invitation to the White House, and after considering the invite, the Tigers accepted to celebrate with President Joe Biden and his administration.
During Friday’s trip, Smith caused something of a raucous when she fainted. The White House medical staff immediately responded to the startling incident, treating her in the East Room before the SEC All-Freshman Team selection left in a wheelchair.
“I don’t quite remember how everything happened,” Smith told NOLA.com. "I just remember waking up pretty scared. The last thing I remember is telling one of my coaches, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to pass out.’”
Tigers coach Kim Mulkey admitted it was not the first time Smith has fainted. Mulkey added: “She did this on her recruiting visit. We should have thought about it earlier.”
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Smith, a freshman from Texas, played in every game for LSU during their championship season. She averaged 4.6 points across the campaign, which ended in confetti after the dominant win over the Hawkeyes.
While the Tigers did indeed go to Washington, there was speculation the program may turn down the invite after First Lady Jill Biden seemed to invite Iowa to the White House alongside LSU. The First Lady’s press secretary Vanessa Valdivia attempted to clarify the invitation, taking to social media to suggest Biden’s comments ‘were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes’.
U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden posee for photographs with co-captains Emily Ward and Angel Reese as LSU were honoured at the White House (Getty Images)However, LSU star player Reese did not take the invitation extended to Iowa well. The 20-year-old played a key role in the Tigers’ victory over the Hawkeyes to win the first national title in program history, and she was named the women’s NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as a result of her performances.
Reese suggested the Tigers could boycott the ceremony in protest, but they ultimately decided to attend. Speaking to ESPN, she said: “In the beginning we were hurt – it was emotional because we know how hard we worked all year for everything.
"You don't get that experience (to go to the White House) ever ... and I know my team probably wants to go for sure and my coaches are supportive of that so I'm going to do what's best for the team and we've decided we're gonna go. I’m a team player. I'm gonna do what's best for the team ... I'm the captain.”
According to ESPN, the national championship drew a record-breaking average of 9.9 million viewers. The clash between the Hawkeyes and Tigers peaked at 12.6 million viewers to become the most-viewed NCAA Division I women’s college basketball game in history.