NEW ERA
We spoke with the players that helped finally earn women’s basketball national respect. Read on page
GROWTH OF THE GAME
Meet the engines behind women’s basketball’s explosion in popularity
BY TYLER HARDEN Staff Writer
In 2021, the NCAA supplied the 68 men’s tournament teams with squat racks, free weights, dumbbells, anything a team would need to play at a high level during a worldwide pandemic.
The women’s tournament, which wasn’t yet able to refer to itself as March Madness, was met with the bare minimum: a single rack of dumbbells and some sanitized yoga mats.
“When I came into college, we couldn’t even use that tag line,” USC graduate senior Talia Von Oelhoffen said.
The dumbbells, the yoga mats, and the lack of March Madness branding were the beginning of a change that would launch the women’s game to a level it hasn’t seen before. It was a change that would force the NCAA’s hand in providing women’s college basketball with the equality it deserved.
The start of the climb
But the 2021 National Championship totaled 4.1 million viewers. The next season it was 4.9 million.
The 2023 season was different, almost 10 million people watched LSU’s national championship victory over Iowa. The massive spike of viewers was in large part due to players like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and LSU’s Angel Reese, two players who were advocates of growing the women’s game.
“You have to take that scary step of faith,” Reese said. “When I take those scary steps, I trust God and let him handle it.”
But as both Clark and Reese demanded a larger platform with both their advocacy and talent, the response was often adversarial. What was deemed normal competitiveness by Clark was sensationalized into Reese being accused of instigating conflict and showing poor sportsmanship.
This fabricated dynamic perpetuated into their professional careers and detracted from the ways they both were bringing the sport a newfound status.
Women’s viewership surpasses the men’s
The two met again the next year in the Elite Eight and Iowa came away with a 94-87 win over LSU. The game amassed a thenrecord 12.3 million viewers.
Iowa fell to South Carolina in the national championship two games later, setting a new record of 18.7 million viewers on average and 24 million at peak. The men’s national title game between UConn and Purdue averaged 14.8 million viewers.
Not only did the women’s ratings tower over the men’s that season, but Iowa’s matchup with South Carolina was also the most-watched basketball game between men’s and women’s, college or professional, since 2019.
New leaders in 2025
Women’s college basketball was coming off the most attention it’s ever seen going into the 2025 season. While Clark and Reese moved onto the WNBA, new leaders picked up where they left off.
Prior to the 2025 season, UConn’s Paige Bueckers announced that she would be returning for her fifth season after a slew of injuries.
“I believe everything happens for a reason,” Bueckers said. “Just being at this stage with my teammates, the coaching staff, in this UConn uniform, it’s what you work for during rehab, it’s what you work for going through the comeback.”
Bueckers came to UConn with more of a platform than arguably any incoming women’s college basketball player ever. She used this to her advantage and became a leader in the continued growth of the sport.
“It’s come a long way, even since my freshman year. The growth, the availability, viewership, people investing in women’s sports, it’s grown so much,” Bueckers said.
LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson and USC’s Juju Watkins both came to the collegiate level with similar platforms and expectations to Bueckers.
Sometimes the transfer portal brings a spotlight to new leaders like Aneesah Morrow after traveling to Baton Rouge.
“For me to be at LSU, and do the things that I did every night, I’m just proud,” Morrow said. “Sometimes you have to look back on the accomplishments that you’ve had.”
With Bueckers again healthy, Johnson and Watkins continuing to grow their names, new transfers like Morrow, Hailey Van Lith, Kiki Iriafen and Georgia Amoore,
on top of a talented freshman class the 2025 season was set to be crucial for the women’s game. The 2025 season shows consistency
Clark and Reese’s impact on the women’s game left immense shoes to fill when they both moved onto the professional level.
For the 2025 Final Four, the numbers weren’t quite what they were in 2024. But they were, nonetheless, still monumental when it comes to where the game would stand in the post-Clark era.
The early Final Four matchup between South Carolina and Texas drew in 3.6 million viewers, while the UConn and UCLA matchup right after drew in 4.1 million viewers, peaking at 4.7 million.
The 2025 National Championship between South Carolina and UConn was filled with storylines. The Gamecocks pursued back-toback titles and the Huskies fought for their 12th national title to cap off Bueckers’ college career.
Bueckers paid off the fairytale ending with 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and two blocks in a 82-59 lopsided victory for a national championship. Viewership neared 10 million despite an uneven contest.
What’s next for the women’s game?
Names like Flau’jae Johnson, Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles and UConn’s Azzi Fudd all decided to forego the WNBA draft, opting instead to continue their college careers.
“I think knowing that I haven’t really had a full, healthy year here,” Fudd said. “Having one more year to work on myself, be a better leader, be a better teammate, grow in different areas of the game, have another year here under these great coaches with
these great players before I go pro is what I need to be ready.”
UConn has another star set to return, one who made herself known as a true freshman: Sarah Strong. She led the Huskies with 24 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals and three blocks for a program’s 12th title.
Lauren Betts will return for UCLA after leading it to a Final Four. She saw a spike in her overall performance in the 2025 season, and will be a leader for the Bruins next season.
“Growing up watching March Madness, it’s always something I’ve dreamt of being a part of,” Betts said. “I’m just really thankful.”
In addition, Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson, who LSU saw in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, announced she’d be transferring to South Carolina. Latson led the country in scoring with 25.2 points per game, and will be expected to have a hand in continuing a dynasty in Columbia.
“I’m just proud of myself,” Latson said. “I’ve grown a lot this season, and still have so much to learn and so much to grow from.”
Watkins is among the larger storylines leading up to the 2026 season after tearing her ACL in the second round of the tournament. Her and other stars like Texas’ Madison Booker, some surprising transfers and a promising freshman class ensure the sport is well positioned to grow further.
Now, women’s college basketball and all its leaders have risen to national stardom. They have lots more than just a stack of dumbbells and some yoga mats, and they’ll only continue to gain so much more.
“[We] definitely deserve it, but I feel we have a long way to go,” Strong said.
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HANS PENNINK / AP Photo
UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) drives against LSU forward Angel Reese (10) during the first quarter of a Sweet Sixteen round college basketball game during the NCAA Tournament March 30, 2024, in Albany, N.Y.
HIGHER EDUCATION
Student Senate holds final meeting of semester
BY MORGAN VANNOSDALL Staff Writer
The Student Senate passed 15 resolutions as it wrapped up its 61st session Wednesday.
The resolutions condemned an engineering professor for his course’s testing conditions, denounced members of the Louisiana Legislature who wrote in support of the Foret-Tatman: Forward campaign’s reinstatement, called for clarification on the university’s diversity, equity and inclusion guidelines and more.
In addition to the resolutions passed, Chief Justice Camille Cronin told the Senate election results won’t be announced until the dean of students rules on the remaining election case.
Speaker Lailah Williams presented Student Government Resolution 26, which urged the administration to give clarification surrounding new DEI standards. The resolution passed unanimously after Williams spoke on how the laws have affected the Senate’s plan to send a student to an educational conference.
“Because one of these sponsors of the conference has a commitment to DEI in their mission statement, she was no longer allowed to go,” Williams said.
How LSU’s hiring freeze is affecting students WRAPPED UP
Since the mission statement was on the website, the Senate was no longer allowed to give the money it promised. This incident took place prior to the federal directives addressing DEI, but the resulting confusion still contributed to the Senate’s decision to seek clarification.
Sens. Corbitt Driskell, Joshua Jones and Hannah Alm-Gibson presented SGR 25. The resolution, which passed unanimously, condemned State Sens. Alan Seabaugh and Gregory Miller and State Rep. Dixon McMakin for their involvement in this year’s SG election, in which they wrote in support of the ForetTatman: Forward campaign’s reinstatement prior to the election.
Driskell was quick to put any potential hesitations about the resolution to rest.
“It doesn’t change the fact that what they did was wrong, and if we feel it was wrong, we should be able to say that,” Driskell said.
The student senators didn’t explicitly name Foret-Tatman: Forward but referred to them as “a certain ticket” while debating the resolution’s passage.
“They are going to vote against education anyway,” said Sen. Alicia Cerquone of Seabaugh, Miller and McMakin. “So
we have two choices: We can let all the hard work and countless hours we put into this organization be returned with a slap in the face and we can shut up and fall in line, or we can say something about it and call out the actions of these senators.”
Sens. Ryan Benn and James Williams III presented SGR 19, a resolution condemning engineering Professor Harris Wong for allegedly creating a hostile testing environment. It passed 53-4 with no abstentions.
Wong teaches thermodynamics, a course required to graduate as an engineering major. He’s the only professor who teaches the class.
The resolution says Wong’s syllabus states students are able to have a calculator and a notecard with them during testing. Before an exam, however, he allegedly told students they wouldn’t be able to use the extra material.
“He is disregarding not only the feelings of students but the academic environment by creating a syllabus saying, ‘Hey, you will have these materials and then explicitly taking that away,’” Benn said.
Student Senate meetings will resume in the fall on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Capital Chamber.
BY MADDIE PACELLI Staff Writer
LSU implemented a temporary hiring freeze across all departments except athletics at the end of last month to account for uncertainty surrounding federal funding, a move significantly impacting students seeking employment.
For some students, the university may provide their only reliable employment opportunity, particularly for underclassmen.
“I understand why LSU is pausing the hiring of students at the time being, but I wish there were more job opportunities on campus in general for freshmen,” said Sophia Janicki, a sophomore accounting major.
Janicki was seeking a university job this semester but now says she will have to wait until the fall to be hired.
The freeze currently has no set end date, with no guarantee some of the job opportunities will return. LSU said it is looking to consolidate some positions and explore the use of AI in the workplace.
“It is understandable given the time,” said animal science freshman Elizabeth Grimblatov.
“I think that students who were eager to find a job on campus should have been more aware of this freeze before they lost their
opportunity to find one.”
The freeze does not have a set end date, with no guarantee some of the job opportunities will return. Appeal processes are available for critical hires in academics, research and operations. However, these considerations have done little to reassure some students, especially given the freeze’s outsized impact on certain groups on campus.
“I am outraged, and I think the university should consider students who don’t have a vehicle for off-campus employment,” said philosophy and psychology junior Perry LaBorde.
However, other students remain unaffected by the freeze, but still disapprove of it.
“I think it is bad for students who live on campus and need a source of income in the area,” said business freshman Angelina Torres, “but for me I am not affected.”
Regardless of student reaction, the university appears unlikely to end the freeze this semester, striking an optimistic tone on LSU’s future despite current headwinds.
“Uncertainty in federal funding and future support should not hinder our growth or momentum,” said LSU President William F. Tate IV in the initial email announcement. “Instead, we must transform challenges into opportunities.”
LOUISIANA ILLUMINATOR / Matthew Perschall LSU’s Memorial Tower displays the time on March 20, 2023, on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
MORGAN VANNOSDALL / The Reveille
The Student Government Senate meets April
the Red River Room of the Student Union in Baton Rouge, La.
Class of 2025 TIGER TWELVE
Each spring, LSU recognizes 12 outstanding seniors. In keeping with the university’s commitment to community, these individuals contribute positively to the campus, surrounding community, and society. They demonstrate a commitment to intellectual achievement, leadership on campus, and community service. Congratulations to the Tiger Twelve Class of 2025!
lsu.edu/tigertwelve
William Hamilton Carter Business Analytics Rosemary Beach, Florida
Emily Demps International Management Atlanta, Georgia
Emma Klenke Biological Sciences Sulphur, Louisiana
Brynali Marshall Interdisciplinary Studies in Arabic, Analytics, and Computer Science Opelousas, Louisiana
Sierra R Moran Coastal Environmental Science Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TyJanae Quite Political Science Prairieville, Louisiana
John Michael Sweat Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology Broussard, Louisiana
Kenneth Taylor Jr. Business Marketing New Orleans, Louisiana
Milton E. Trowbridge IV Sports Administration Ridgeland, Mississippi
Alexis Lasheia White International Studies Capitol Heights, Maryland
Lailah Williams Political Science and International Studies McKinney, Texas
Cobi Wright Psychology Grayson, Georgia
ENTERTAINMENT
School of Theatre festival blends science and dramatic arts
BY LANA LAWSON Staff Writer
LSU’s Theatre department recently put science in the spotlight for its latest SciArts Festival, a festival created to highlight the benefits of intersecting the arts with science.
The festival ran from April 15 to 17 and showcased three science plays, selected from over 150 submissions across the nation. Marina DeYoe-Pedraza, a graduate student at the School of Theatre, explained how the festival only features plays that explore scientific concepts or science that is integral to the play.
“Sometimes science is used as a metaphor to understand humans better and sometimes the play is straight up about the science,” DeYoe-Pedraza said.
DeYoe-Pedraza is one of the SciArts organizers who helped transform how the public receives scientific ideas. She envisions collaborations among different academic fields and believes that the SciArts Festival can help to foster interdisciplinary collaboration at LSU.
“I think one of the benefits of a festival like this is we’re not just showing general audiences, but we’re also showing colleagues in the college of science that this is another way to communicate your ideas through theater and through perfor-
mance,” DeYoe-Pedraza said.
“Better Living”, a play written by Rich Rubin, was one of the plays featured amongst the SciArts lineup.
“Better Living” tells the story of Connie and Paul, former coworkers who help with the development of Scotchgard. The play shifts between present day scenes where Paul is living in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s and flashbacks to 30 years earlier when Paul was Connie’s supervisor.
During her visits to Paul at the nursing home, Connie tries to remind Paul of their past and their role in creating PFAs, which are chemicals that contaminate air, water and bloodstreams. In the flashbacks, Connie discovers the environmental harm caused by PFAs and encourages Paul to take action but Paul dismisses her concerns, threatens her job and ultimately demotes her position after she refuses to stay silent.
Paul never acknowledges the harm of these chemicals even in old age. After his death, Connie confides in Paul’s caretaker at the nursing home that she has renal cancer. Her illness along with Paul’s Alzheimer’s were likely caused by the PFAs and Connie admits that she regrets not speaking out sooner.
The play explores themes of guilt, denial and environmental responsibility. In the end,
both characters faced the consequence of their creation, by dying from the chemicals that they created.
Rich Rubin, the 78-year-old playwright, is a retired primary care physician that started writing plays in his 60s. He said his experience is a great example of how unpredictable life can be.
“I really had no theater background,” Rubin said. “I really enjoyed them and maybe something in the back of my mind even way back then was ‘this looks like fun’, and ‘maybe I’ll try my hand at this.’”
Rubin took inspiration for “Better Living” from an investigative article by Sharon Lerner called “You Make Me Sick”. He admires the reporting that Lerner did and decided to base the plot on it.
“There are certain cancers, reproductive irregularities and immune irregularities and dysfunctions associated with PFAs,” Rubin said. “A variety of things that we’re learning can be found in the blood of very young children and newborns even, because mothers pass it on to their newborns. So, Sharon Lerner wrote about this in some detail, and told a specific story about this in real life terms.”
Rubin hopes that his play educated the audience about PFAs and provoked discussions about scientific ethics. He said that
the SciArts Festival is exactly the platform needed to spark interdisciplinary conversations for spreading awareness for topics like these.
“It’s easy for us to be isolated in our own silos of information, and for scientists just to speak to other scientists, and theater folks just to speak to other theater folks. So I think it’s great that this festival is a wonderful attempt to bring various groups
together and really initiate rather deep and really interesting conversations.” Rubin said. Rubin’s journey from medicine to playwriting proves that the two fields are more fluid than we think. Mixing the two disciplines helps to educate audiences in a way that is informative but still entertaining. LSU’s SciArts Festival was a great example that science does not have to be in a lab.
Seoul Stop brings the Korean convenience store experience to BR
BY LAURA ALLEN Staff Writer
Seoul Stop offers customers a unique cultural experience, bringing the flavors of South Korea to Baton Rouge.
Seoul Stop is a new Korean convenience store located at 7920 Florida Blvd. in Baton Rouge. As one of the only stores in Louisiana specializing in Korean products, Seoul Stop hopes to foster an authentic Korean convenience store experience for its customers.
“This concept of convenience store is kind of really common back in South Korea,” Minho Kim, the general manager of Seoul Stop, said. “Especially when you think about the convenience stores in South Korea, it’s more like a hangout place. Like, you need a friend, you need a place to sit down. You don’t always have to go to coffee shops or restaurants.”
The store carries a variety of Korean and pan-Asian products, and it also features a deli and a bakery where customers can treat themselves to freshly-made Korean staples like kimbap and onigiri. There is also a seating area where customers can hang out while enjoying their food
and a photobooth for customers to commemorate their experience.
One of Seoul Stop’s most innovative fixtures is its DIY ramyun station where customers can choose from over 100 different flavors of ramyun noodles and make it in store. There are also a number of toppings, including green onions, eggs and cheese, that customers can add to their ramyun bowls.
Seoul Stop is a one-of-akind convenience store in Baton Rouge since there are no other shops nearby that specialize in Korean groceries. This lack of access is what inspired Kim and his two co-founders, Daniel Park
and Sam Park, to open Seoul Stop in the first place.
“We planned this about a year ago,” Kim said. “We agreed that we don’t have something like this in Baton Rouge and also in surrounding cities. And the most inconvenience that we were having was we don’t have a place to shop Korean groceries nearby. We always had to go to an H Mart in Houston, which is round trip eight hours for driving.”
However, starting this business from scratch was no easy feat. Though the Park’s and Kim both had extensive experience in retail, translating their skill sets to a grocery store setting
was difficult. The building also had to undergo some construction to comply with food safety standards, as well as to arrange the store’s layout to optimize customer experience.
Despite the challenges, Seoul Stop has been met with staggering community support and engagement. The store did not do much marketing prior to opening, but the soft opening on March 24 was still packed with customers.
“We really were overwhelmed by the response from the community,” Kim said. “There was a huge crowd.”
Kim is especially grateful for the support from both LSU stu-
dents and local creators who helped to make the Korean convenience store’s launch a success.
Seoul Stop’s mission to provide customers with an authentic cultural experience drives the team members to work hard and enhance the customer experience however they can.
“The rewarding part was when you see the customers come in and leave happily with a happy face,” Kim said. “That’s the most rewarding part. It’s always been.”
Seoul Stop is open every day from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. More information can be found on Seoul Stop’s Instagram @seoulstopusa.
ALEXIS PERSICKE / The Reveille
Seoul Stop sits April 18 on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge, La.
Bartender prepares a drink at Umami Japanese Bistro.
Trio Don.
Freshly torched sushi.
Hamachi Crudo.
Toro Tartare.
Matcha Crepe Cake.
Sake Toro.
Sushi chef topping off a roll of sushi with spicy mayo.
A selection of fresh sushi and delicate entrees at Umami Japanese Bistro on Burbank Drive in Baton Rouge, La.
Photos by Gabriella Guillory | Page design by Rei Zimmerman
MADI MAY’S
MENU
Common Grounds Cafe
BY MADISON MARTIN Staff Writer
As you walk around the lakes, coming up toward the roundabout on Dalrymple Drive, joggers, groups of girls walking, four-legged fellas panting, bikers and anyone else you see around the LSU lakes pass by this coffee shop with vibrant yellow umbrellas and picnic tables inviting you in to take a seat.
This coffee shop is well used by students. This might become college students’ new favorite spot, because it’s free. Yes, it’s all free. Common Grounds Cafe is located at 3355 Dalrymple Drive and is open Sunday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Although it doesn’t have a happy hour, students can be seen studying, talking, playing ping pong, hanging out and sharing life at any point.
Common Grounds is run by The Chapel, and you’re sure to be greeted with an aroma of friendly faces and smiles. Students with the college ministry called The Refuge, soon to be SALT, are behind the counter andeager to serve you. Whether you want a refreshing iced latte or a honey hot tea.
Common Grounds Cafe offers a variety of drinks, with over 15 syrups to choose from, and baristas in training are ready to make the drink of your dreams. On the menu, the shop offers matcha, chai, espresso, usually drip from other events throughout the day and tea. The barista handpicks a mug for you, either a charming chic mug or one that will make you giggle. If you get a to-go cup, you will find writing on the sleeve of your drink with an encouraging note to keep you going throughout your day. The shop has espresso beans from City Roots that are deliciously rich and satisfying to your cravings. I know you may be wondering what you should order when you go, so I’ll share with you a drink that made my day: an iced honey latte. It wasn’t too sweet and could be slurped in one sitting. Made right in front of you, you can customize your drink. Regular whole milk does it for me, but if you have tummy troubles, do not fret, because the shop serves a plethora of milks and lactose-free milks. You can get your drink topped with cinnamon or another dollop of honey, but I believe it’s best served by itself. Next time you pass those inviting yellow umbrellas, stop by and enjoy a cup of coffee, with no worries that your pockets will run empty and settle into a cozy study spot that is perfect for getting work done, with plenty of fun just around the corner for study breaks.
3355
Dalrymple Drive
SPORTS OUT OF STEAM
LSU gymnastics’ 2025 season ends in heartbreak as team loses in semifinals
BY GABBY GRAY & AINSLEY FLOOD Staff Writer
Defending national champion LSU’s hopes to repeat quickly took a turn for the worst on Thursday night in Texas, when the team met UCLA, Michigan State and Utah for the national semifinals.
In a meet unlike any this season, the top seed went down early in the evening. A hard-fought attempt at a comeback showed promise, but eventually left the Tigers empty handed when UCLA’s beam squad stole second.
The Tigers were in familiar territory starting on bars, having opened their regional final on the same event.
Freshman Lexi Zeiss led off with a 9.900 and set high hopes for the rotation, but her score was the highest of the lineup. The remaining five gymnasts averaged a score of 9.8475, and LSU finished the first rotation with a 49.3250.
UCLA shined on the floor and took the lead after the first rotation with a 49.5250. MSU’s vaults were good enough to stick the team into second, so LSU came up third – an alarming start to the competition.
It didn’t get any easier, as the balance beam proved just as challenging on the night.
The highest score was another 9.9000, this time from Konnor McClain. The rest scored within the 9.8000-9.8750 mark except for senior Aleah Finnegan.
The beam anchor who gave
SOFTBALL
LSU
LSU the championship title last year had a different performance tonight. A wobble and a fall midroutine cost her, but Finnegan remounted the beam and finished her performance. She was handed a 9.2250, which was dropped from the event total.
After another below average rotation, the scores rolled in, and the bracket’s No. 1 seed found themselves in last place with 98.6500 at halftime.
While fighting from fourth is not a battle the team has faced this season, LSU is used to high pressure late in the meet.
The Tigers picked up the pace
in the third rotation, with the last three in the lineup going 9.0000 and above on floor.
Amari Drayton got the first one 9.900. Finnegan followed with a 9.9375 – the highest score of the meet yet. Finally, Haleigh Bryant anchored a 9.9125, including a 10 from one judge.
LSU climbed from fourth to second with a running score of 148.1500, overtaking Utah and Michigan State, but still trailing the Bruins at 148.1875.
All four were separated by less than two-tenths entering the fourth and final rotation.
Now only needing to maintain
their placement, the Tigers took over vault – their strongest event.
A similar story to the first three events, LSU was good, but not good enough.
Senior KJ Johnson stuck her yurchenko full for a 9.8375, followed by a 9.800 from Zeiss, which was the dropped score of the rotation. Behind them, Finnegan and Drayton were also not able to cross the 9.0000 mark.
That left two of the best vaulters in the nation to redeem the team’s score – freshman Kailin Chio and senior Bryant.
A look of relief took over Chio’s face as she vaulted the
highest score of the night for LSU with a 9.9750. After a remarkable debut collegiate season, she closesd her freshman year with the 2025 NCAA national title on vault.
Chio’s score didn’t guarantee a spot in the finals, so Bryant needed a top score of the night to get LSU to the Four on the Floor.
Her last career vault, a front pike half, had a slight hop forward on the landing. Bryant got a 9.9000 and LSU finished with a 197.5250.
The team and fans waited as the other teams’ final scores rolled in.
Utah – 197.7625. UCLA – 197.7375. MSU – 197.3625.
UCLA’s last three on beam scored high enough to put the Bruins into second and into the finals.
LSU placed third in the competition and the dream of a second consecutive national championship was cut short.
After a promising run for the Tigers, where it weathered both storms big and small, their season was ended.
LSU’s storybook didn’t get its fairytale ending. Instead, the team said goodbye to the 2025 chapter sooner than they expected.
UCLA and Utah both moved on with Missouri and Oklahoma from the other quad to the finals. Ultimately, Oklahoma earned its third national championship in four years with a score of 198.0125.
Texas takes series from LSU softball with stunning walk-off
BY RAMI BURKS Staff Writer
LSU softball fell in late-inning drama for Game 3 against Texas
After leading Games 1 and 2, the Tigers took a page from the Longhorns’ book for Game 3. The purple and gold didn’t strike first in this game but came from behind, similar to Texas in Game 1.
The Longhorns struck early in the second inning, courtesy of a Reese Atwood solo home run. It was the first hit of the day for Texas. LSU returned to work in the circle to keep the lead to one run.
Texas might have painted the scoreboard first, but the game was all Tigers. LSU threatened more often but just struggled to push runs across early. In each inning, at least one Bayou Bengal got on base.
LSU struck back in the fifth inning with a Danieca Coffey infield single, and she had the go-ahead RBI in the top of the seventh inning after Texas took the lead. The
lineup changes made on Friday stuck around for Saturday and gave the Tigers the momentum they needed to finish the series strong.
McKenzie Redoutey blasted her third home run of the season. The shot was big, putting it over the 10foot wall in right-center field.
Other than that, the game was a true pitchers’ duel, from the lack of hits and limited free passes to limited runs scored. LSU even resorted to their small ball in the game’s middle innings to get something going.
Texas ended up coming back with late-inning drama in the seventh to walk it off on an infield single back to Sydney Berzon, who was working in relief.
The matchup of the weekend that everyone wanted to see was flamethrower versus flamethrower, and they got it on Sunday. Jayden Heavener took the mound for LSU, and Teagen Kavan put in the work for Texas.
Jayden Heavener went from her usual spot as Game 2 starter
to starting Game 3 for the Tigers weekend in Austin. After a few rough weekends in SEC play, the freshman seemed calmer and more locked in for her start against Texas.
Heavener looked like she did during her season-opening start against Charlotte, in which she pitched a perfect game. Her stat line looked cleaner in this game than in any of her other SEC starts. Even in the fourth inning, when the Longhorns had their most significant threat of the game, she induced a pop-out to first baseman Tori Edwards to end the inning. Through 5.2 innings pitched, Heavener totaled two strikeouts and two walks while allowing four runs.
The SEC is even more contentious than usual with Texas and Oklahoma added. LSU played a competitive series with the Longhorns, which proves it can contend for an SEC and national title. The Tigers’ five losses in a row in SEC play light a fire under them.
The Longhorns topped the Tigers 5-6 to win the game and series. LSU will continue to try to
build momentum during their midweek matchup with McNeese on Tuesday. The first pitch will be at 6 p.m. at Tiger Park.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille
gymnastics all-around freshman Kailin Chio prepares to mount the beam during LSU’s SEC Championship win on March 22 at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Al.
PAYTON PRICHARD / The Reveille LSU softball redshirt senior infielder Danieca Coffey (13) prepares to catch a ball during LSU’s 4-1 win over Kentucky on March 14 at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La..
BASKETBALL
What does Amiya Joyner bring to LSU women’s basketball?
BY TYLER HARDEN Staff Writer
Kim Mulkey and LSU picked up their second transfer out of the transfer portal last Tuesday in East Carolina forward Amiya Joyner.
Joyner averaged 15 points per game along with 9.2 rebounds per game this past season. In her three seasons at East Carolina, she averaged a combined 12.8 points per game along with 9.6 rebounds per game.
The rising senior comes to Baton Rouge with a decorated career at East Carolina. She has 41 career double-doubles and 905 career rebounds, which is the fourth most in East Carolina history. She also has the fourth most blocks in program history with 132 blocks.
She was awarded first team All-American Athletic Conference for the 2025 season.
Joyner plays a similar game to Aneesah Morrow as a rather
undersized post player with intensity on the glass to make up for it.
She showed that at a high level in a 95-44 loss to South Carolina in November. Of East Carolina’s 44 points, Joyner scored 25 of them, along with 10 rebounds.
Her season-high came against Howard three days after East Carolina’s loss to the Gamecocks, as she recorded 32 points and 15 rebounds in a 65-44 win.
Along with the similarities to Morrow’s game, Joyner provides a pivotal piece to LSU’s frontcourt for the upcoming season.
Joyner joins Notre Dame center Kate Koval as LSU’s two transfers for the 2026 season. Koval is a 6-foot-5 rising sophomore who averaged 5.3 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game.
LSU’s frontcourt was gutted after the end of the season. Along with Morrow taking her career to the WNBA, Sa’Myah Smith transferred to Virginia,
and Last-Tear Poa, Jersey Wolfenbarger and Aalyah Del Rosario all entered the transfer portal.
Along with Joyner and Koval, LSU added five-star forward Grace Knox from the high school ranks. Knox brings a more versatile game to LSU’s frontcourt with her ability to shoot from the perimeter.
But Koval and Knox lack one thing as opposed to Joyner: experience.
With three seasons at the collegiate level, Joyner brings a veteran career to Baton Rouge, which will play a significant role in a thin frontcourt. Joyner can fill in Morrow’s shoes not only with her playstyle, but also with her experience.
With the offseason just beginning, Mulkey and her staff may want to dip into the portal once again to grab another post player. However, Mulkey has played small in the past, especially this past season.
If she decides to go that route
once again, the numbers are there. But depth is never a bad thing, and Mulkey and her staff may want to secure that.
Nonetheless, the Tigers landed a major playmaker in Joyner; a playmaker that resembles one of the program’s best in Morrow.
LSU baseball misses sweep after Saturday loss to Alabama
BY ROSS ABBOUD Staff Writer
LSU baseball lost its third game of the series versus Alabama 7-4 after a poor offensive outing. The loss prevented a sweep, but LSU still took the series with wins on Thursday and Friday.
The Tigers struggled to bring home its baserunners all night, stranding all five of their baserunners up until the sixth inning and hitting into a double play twice.
Their first score came off the bat of Jared Jones, who launched his 13th home run of the season in the third. But after Jones’ solo homer, LSU went two innings before seeing another hit.
After several innings without hits and a couple others leaving them on base, the game was starting to slip away.
Head coach Jay Johnson then decided to pinch hit Jake Brown for Michael Braswell III. It paid off on the very first pitch which was launched over the fence to make the score 5-3.
Alabama, on the other hand, had no issues bringing home its runners with four of its 13 base runners scoring up to the sixth inning.
Just one hit in the following two innings set things up to depend on the bottom of the ninth.
Once again in need of a spark, Brown hit a triple to drive in Pearson from first. Two strikeouts and
a foul out left Brown standing on third base to end the game. The game’s end was effectively representative of its entirety, runners left on base or in scoring position.
“I think Josh is the one who said it a few weeks back, that he kind of puts himself in another person’s shoes,” Brown said. “I took that from him and I’ve been working on that.”
Conner Ware got his first SEC start over Chase Shores. He threw 37 pitches through two innings, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out one batter. Despite allowing good contact, Ware consistently got ahead in counts and left with just one earned run. The decision for him to start
came largely from the advantage of using a lefty against this specific Tide batting order.
“You look at that first inning. Fowler’s a left handed hitter, we’d had problems with Snell for two days, Hodo is one of their better guys,” Johnson said. “It gets us off to a clean start and he did a good job.”
Shores replaced him in the third inning and issued a walk to his first batter, then a three-run home run off the bat of Richie Bonomolo. Shores allowed six Alabama baserunners on during the 2.2 innings he worked but was able to strike out five batters.
The game started to turn when DJ Primeaux, Maverick Rizy, Cooper WIlliams, and William
BY GABBY GRAY Staff Writer
At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.
The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU baseball’s Anthony Eyanson.
Eyanson, a transfer from UC San Diego, played a pivotal role in securing the Tigers a series win against the University of Alabama.
After a Thursday night win for LSU, it tackled the Crimson Tide with Eyanson, who brought LSU out of loaded bases in both the first and fourth inning of Friday night.
The California native fired 115 pitches, resulting in 12 strikeouts and five walks for Alabama.
Schmidt stranded a combined six baserunners in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
“Cooper Williams and DJ were awesome tonight,” Johnson said. “That was the highlight of the night for me.”
The Tide’s last two runs came off Jaden Noot, who inherited two runners and Jacob Mayers, both in the ninth.
Ultimately, a bend but don’t break relief effort was not paid off by the bats, often because of missed opportunities. The Tigers finish the home appearance with a series win, missing the opportunity for a sweep.
The Tigers next series is April 25 at 6:30 p.m., taking on Tennessee in Baton Rouge.
The pitch count was careerhigh for Eyanson, following his 107 pitches in LSU’s winning series against Oklahoma.
As far as strikeouts go, the junior found a place in LSU baseball history on March 8 against North Alabama, where he pitched in seven innings and had 15 strikeouts, matching that of Paul Skenes, who had 15 against Auburn in May 2023.
“My outing was really where I wanted to bear down and really execute,” Eyanson said. “And I think in that moment I had to really focus and just prioritize that right there.”
With 34 career strikeouts in his first season and 85 in his second, the right-handed pitcher is slowly creeping on his career record with 83 strikeouts so far.
“Anthony has so much poise, and he does a great job of keeping things on the rails,” LSU head coach Jay Johnson said after Friday’s win. “He can really bear down and make a pitch when he needs to. He was awesome tonight, the best performance he’s had this year.”
GRAPHIC BY JACOB CHASTANT
COURTESY OF AMIYA JOYNER
OPINION
The morning routine social media trend shows a false reality
TANTAWI’S TABLOID
TANTAWI’S TABLOID
MOHAMMAD
MOHAMMAD
TANTAWI
TANTAWI
Columnist
@mowinator
We’ll applaud the doctor for finishing medical school, yet neglect their medical advice. The problem is that people are bored. Despite individual medical history and bodily needs, we know what a healthy lifestyle looks like.
However, social media platforms have created an idealized aspect of everything we do day-today. We are unwillingly subjected to better versions of everything we’re experiencing.
You may have decorated your living room, finding joy in its transformation and the work you put into it. Well, guess what? “X” influencer just posted a living room transformation that makes yours look like child’s play.
The recent explosion of the morning routine reminds us of how starved for purpose people are.
Waking up early is a healthy practice. It’s natural to wake up with the sun and wind down your day as it sets.
Despite its simplicity, social media has turned morning routines into a beauty contest where the main point gets lost in the camera work. If you’re unaware, the trend is an aesthetic, chronologically captured video following a person’s morning routine.
No one capitalized more on the trend than fitness influencer Ashton Hall. His viral morning routine took the online community by storm, meeting praise and criticism.
His routine was not bad. A 3:50 a.m. wake-up time, drinking water, journaling, a religious session and working out. But it’s not about that. It’s about how cool his routine was, which captured his audience.
It’s never been more important to find comfort and ease in your life. Simultaneously, it’s never been
harder to be content with what you have.
We spend our time admiring others, falling for the lie that their well-made, aesthetic video is selling. The combination of health and wealth creates a manipulated influence that young people think is how their lives should be.
The probability that your morning routine will be as smooth and glamorous as the one you’re watching leaves many downplaying their own lives.
It’s not enough for you to be healthy and get up in the morning. People think they need fancy water and a camera crew in place to find the motivation to get out of bed.
This trend, like others, is an illusion to beautify discipline for easy consumption. No matter the resources we have at our disposal, motivation will always fluctuate.
The morning routine trend gives influencers motivation to continue their routine. Using our views as their fuel, it’s no longer about
health.
Instead of talking to our doctors and developing plans that fit our preferences, we seek to emulate the actions of others. Their credibility as influencers makes us want to copy their actions in the hopes that their results become ours.
It’s admirable to find motivation in someone you admire. It’s not the consumer’s fault. The way social media grows is through engagement. Instead of an app engaging with you, the app provides a platform for others to engage with you. It creates a marketplace of personalities and interests vying for your attention.
Creators are incentivized to improve their production and content because of financial factors. It’s not just Gen Z; folks of all ages are finding themselves captivated by the concept. The income potential on social media is limitless. It frees you from your day job and allows your personality to be your moneymaker.
Hollywood is social media, and it’s important not to fall for the allure. Whether we want to admit it, social media is no longer a primitive social networking app; it’s an entire economy. Yes, take bits and pieces of the creators you watch, but don’t fall in love with an aesthetic that makes you feel like what you have or who you are is deficient.
Mohammad Tantawi is a 24-yearold mass communication senior from Smyrna, Tenn.
Letter to the Editor: U.S. citizens must reject Trump’s agenda
BY A. RAVI P. RAU
Congress and the President are politically elected branches of the government. The judiciary, the free Press and universities play equally important roles in the health of a nation. Indiscriminate assaults on them will seriously harm all of us. The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court noted that for over two centuries the proper response on disputed judgments is to appeals in courts, not for the President to threaten judges.
With Congress having failed to be a check on a runaway executive, it remains for the judiciary, press and universities to do so. The great universities of this country, some such as Harvard older than the nation itself, along with counterparts in Europe go -
EDITORIAL BOARD
Colin Falcon Editor in Chief
ing back many hundred years, have developed their norms of academic freedom and free exploration, including criticism, of all ideas.
This has preserved and expanded knowledge for all western civilization. Society has seen as necessary for public good that universities investigate and question ideas and beliefs. Great harm is done when either the Congress as in the 1950s with Sen. Joe McCarthy or our current executive flouts basic norms and principles in political diktats on what should be thought and taught.
The President cannot insist on some “patriotic” path for everyone to follow, whether in domestic or foreign policy. That is the way of a dictator. A U.S. election does not elect a king, only one
Managing Editor Jason Willis
who swears an oath to the Constitution. The election does not make him an authority on the arts, science, economics, public health and history.
It is very good that Harvard has decided to defy and fight the current unprecedented assault on universities. Besides matters of principle and integrity, appeasement is not a viable tactic even practically with this administration which only doubles down on its bullying and escalates the blackmailing.
Public universities must also stand with the prominent private ones in this fight. Forward thinking people (Lincoln, Morrill) of an earlier generation, and even amidst a devastating Civil War, established land-grant A&M Colleges such as LSU, looking ahead to the health and prosperity of
society and the nation. It is now the responsibility of our generation to speak up for the same when the existential threat comes from our own government. We owe it to all those predecessors in the past, and to succeeding generations to come, to fight in the present to preserve them. This country is great because of its ideals, Constitution, the rule of law, not of men. “We the people,” not one man. Threatening neighbors was the behavior of a Germany or Japan in the past and a Russia today, not of the U.S. Insulting and bullying other countries inevitably extends to his own countrymen.
Snatching a woman student off the streets by masked men not wearing uniform of police or FBI is the way of Ayatollahs’ morality enforcers in Iran, not in a land
Editorial Policies and Procedures
The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
of civil liberties. Whisking someone away at the dead of night, leaving family and lawyers in the dark, happened to “disappear” in a past Philippines, Brazil, or Chile, should not in today’s U.S. An immigrant or foreign student may be an easy target at first, but it will inevitably extend also to citizens, as it did in those countries. All, therefore, should condemn and reject these tactics of bypassing courts and due process. Each of us should speak out and fight for justice and the law, for free thought and expression of it. History will be a harsh judge otherwise, as it has of other past regimes, seeing the U.S. as once great but not now.
A. Ravi P. Rau is a professor of physics and astronomy and LSU faculty member for 50 years.
Quote of the Week
“Stories of imagination tend to upset those without one.”
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF AP PHOTO
Despite
all of
its issues, Baton
Rouge is still a beautiful city
ANDREW’S ANGLE
ANDREW SARHAN
Columnist
I’m from Baton Rouge, and that’s something I’m proud of. I won’t say that Baton Rouge is infallible, but I’m pleased that I’m from here, despite its issues.
No matter where you are, you’d be hard pressed to find a place that doesn’t have issues. Furthermore, I think the city’s natural beauty outweighs most of, if not all, the city’s cons.
While Baton Rouge isn’t a walkable city by any stretch of the imagination, BREC has a plan to connect a few trails. This includes the Ward Creek Greenway and the Dawson Creek Greenway, to make a 10-mile loop known as the “Health Loop,” where access to Baton Rouge’s beauty will be a lot easier for pedestrians.
I visited both routes, and as of this month, they’re not connected. I couldn’t find anything on the progress of this project, but the sooner it’s finished, the easier it will be to show off the city’s natural beauty.
Many of the older neighborhoods like Mid-City, Old South Baton Rouge, Southdowns and Collegetown all feel like they belong, especially those in Mid-City and Old South Baton Rouge. The houses don’t look out of place, and furthermore, they add to the city’s charm and beauty in the way that other neighborhoods do.
Many of these neighborhoods connect to each other, which adds to the ambience. That is the main problem with newer suburbs; I feel like they don’t consider the neighborhoods around them, don’t connect paths to each other and abruptly end roads for an illusion of safety.
An example of this is the neighborhood of Rouzan. Wedged between Pollard Place and Southdowns lies this example of all that is wrong with modern-day suburbia. The layout is confusing, the sidewalks connect at only a few points and it’s just tacky. Additionally, the whole area feels plastic and fake, a stark contrast from the neighborhoods surrounding it.
Rouzan is a new development; previously, there was some sort of business at the location of the entrance of the neighborhood, and behind it was a sprawling field with a tree line. This area was pillaged in place of Los Angelesstyle McMansions placed right next to each other, seemingly copy-and-pasted throughout the neighborhood. Furthermore, the neighborhood is not designed on a grid. Instead, it branches streets that connect to a center oval that houses an empty grain silo with
the neighborhood’s name on it. It isn’t accessible after a certain hour, making this park functionally useless as a hangout area after dark.
This isn’t even talking about the faux-French names of the streets, which would be fine if the residents of this neighborhood didn’t insist on butchering the pronunciation of these names with their Southern accents.
Regardless, a short distance from this suburban monstrosity lies the area of Baton Rouge with the most personality: LSU’s campus and University Lakes. For one, LSU is the prettiest SEC campus, in my opinion, and it’s not even close. While other universities have their charm, LSU’s stately oaks and broad magnolias are top-notch.
Aside from the stately oaks, the University Lakes are a true gem of the city when they’re not being dredged up. As of writing this, the lakes are currently undergoing a process of restoration known as the “University Lakes Project,” a project that seems to symbolize Baton Rouge itself: normally pretty, but constantly under repair.
If you can ignore the work, the Lakeshore Drive area is a great place to exercise. Not only are pedestrians sharing the entire road with cars, but the million-dollar houses that adorn the area are beautiful. One can gawk for long periods of time at some of the colors or design choices of these houses that they couldn’t even dream of owning.
Those are just a few areas of Baton Rouge, specifically the ones I’m most familiar with due to where I’ve lived and gone to school.
However, one area that is often slept on is the bluffs near Southern University. That is where Scott’s Bluff is found, the location of the original “Red
Crumbl Cookies is horrendously overrated
AMYRI’S VANTAGE
AMYRI JONES
Columnist
Crumbl Cookies has been trending on social media, specifically TikTok, for quite some time now, and it’s not for good reasons. When Crumbl was first established, it was loved for its different, weekly, unique flavors; they were interesting.
However, the company could not keep up with its increasing popularity and demand. Many people have complained about Crumbl’s cookies being undercooked.
I bought some myself and had the same complaint. There’s no reason why salmonella coated in icing should be on the market, but Crumbl found a way to make that happen.
Stick,” formally known as Baton Rouge.
The bluffs are stunning in their own right, but Southern University elevates the area further. Southern is a beautiful campus, with plenty of sidewalks for travel or recreational use. It also has lots of green space and a lake behind the union, with trees to obscure the sunlight on the lake.
Let’s not forget the beautiful A.W. Mumford Stadium, a monolithic football complex of concrete and steel, where the Southern University Marching band, known as the Human Jukebox, proudly plays their instruments to roaring fans, energizing the Southern Jaguars to victory.
And all of this is just a mere section of the area’s rich history. From the Old State Capitol, a building so ornate it looks like it was taken brick by brick from Europe, to the Kingfish, in which former Senator and Governor of Louisiana, Huey P. Long’s soul haunts the halls he built in the New State Capitol.
Baton Rouge’s beauty is undeniable, not only from its landscapes but from its rich culture. Sure, we have problems, but I will take the good with the bad, mainly because this place is my home. It’ll always be my home. Even if I leave, I will always love this city. There’s nothing that could happen to stop me from loving this place.
Baton Rouge’s beauty isn’t just in its culture and landscapes — it’s in the inherent soul of the city. Baton Rouge is like the biggest small town, because everyone has connections with each other, so we’re all one big family; regardless of petty differences, you’re still invited to the crawfish boil.
Andrew Sarhan is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Baton Rouge, La.
of their cookies, I don’t think they were as disgusting as people made them out to be, except for Kourtney Kardashian’s flourless chocolate cake. Kourtney Kardashian had to have been joking when she made it, because cake should never taste like a tire.
Kris Kardashian’s yellow cake was a regular yellow cake coated in chocolate icing. Kim Kardashian’s snickerdoodle cookie was good, though I’m not sure why she chose this flavor for the springtime — but hey, to each their own.
I had high hopes for Khloe Kardashian’s cookies and cream cookie because I love the flavor, but it fell short.
I guess to make up for the fact that their 2 million calorie, warm cookie dough leaves people dissatisfied, Crumbl decided to partner with different celebrities, hoping to attract their fan bases. I mean, it worked in terms of traction, but satisfaction, no. Once again, Crumbl bites the dust.
They collaborated with Olivia Rodrigo, but that cookie had negative reviews. Most recently, they launched a limited collaboration with the Kardashians.
Each Kardashian sister was able to create her own cookie or dessert. I didn’t have much hope for their cookies, so I wasn’t surprised that their treats were basic and not worth the purchase.
Though I wasn’t a fan of any
Kendall Jenner’s cookie was only supposed to have cookie dough bites, but the whole cookie was doughy. This isn’t her fault, so I think it would have been better if the chef had baked it properly.
Lastly, Kylie Jenner’s confetti sugar cookie was alright. I’m not a fan of sprinkles, so it didn’t have a wow factor for me.
Insomnia Cookies are better than Crumbl and deserve way more hype in the cookie world. I wouldn’t say that Crumbl needs to shut down because it’s still loved by some people, but the owners need to pivot and start anew. If they continue to let their brand dwindle in this way, I doubt that Crumbl will even exist two years from now.
Amyri Jones is a 23-year-old digital advertising and religious studies senior from Baton Rouge, La.
MADALYN CUNNINGHAM / The Reveille
The Louisiana State Capitol sits on Feb. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La.
GRAPHIC BY TAYLOR HAMILTON