LSU women's basketball star Khayla Pointer has drawn backlash for comments she made about the team's impact on the sport. In an interview with The Athletic, Pointer said that the Tigers "put women's basketball on the map."
Some in the sports world took issue with Pointer's comments. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said that Pointer was "out of touch" and that her comments were "disrespectful" to other women's basketball programs.
"Khayla Pointer is a great player, but she's out of touch if she thinks LSU put women's basketball on the map," Lobo said. "There are so many other great women's basketball programs out there that have been doing great things for years. LSU is just one of many."
Others defended Pointer, saying that she was simply expressing her pride in her team.
"Khayla Pointer is just proud of her team and what they've accomplished," said former LSU women's basketball player Seimone Augustus. "She's not trying to disrespect anyone else."
The backlash to Pointer's comments comes at a time when women's basketball is enjoying a surge in popularity. The NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is now one of the most-watched sporting events in the country, and the WNBA has seen its ratings increase in recent years.
Despite the growth of the sport, there is still a perception that women's basketball is not as popular as men's basketball. Pointer's comments may have reinforced that perception for some, but they also serve as a reminder that women's basketball is still a growing sport.
It remains to be seen whether Pointer's comments will have a lasting impact on the sport. However, they have certainly sparked a debate about the state of women's basketball and its place in the sports world.