LA Times updates controversial op-ed that called LSU's women's basketball team 'dirty debutantes'... after cries of sexism and the paper deeming the phrase didn't meet 'editorial standards'

The Los Angeles Times has updated an article that it deemed to not meet editorial standards after cries of sexism and racism from players on the LSU Tigers women's basketball team.

This article, written by author Ben Bolch, seemed to go above and beyond in demonizing the Tigers in the run up to their Sweet 16 matchup against the UCLA Bruins.

In particular, LSU took issue with the second line in the piece which read, 'Do you prefer America's sweethearts or its dirty debutantes? Milk and cookies or Louisiana hot sauce?'

That line was erased from the article at around 9:55pm Pacific Time before an update notification took its place, reading, 'A previous version of this commentary did not meet Times editorial standards. It has been updated.' 

Bolch's article seemed to drive home the point of describing LSU as the 'villains' of women's basketball - all while painting a very positive picture of the Bruins.

The second line in an LA Times op-ed critical of LSU's women's team has been edited

The second line in the story written by Ben Bolch has been replaced with an update box

After the Tigers knocked off the Bruins, LSU coach Kim Mulkey hit out at the article calling it sexist.

'It was good versus evil in that game today. Evil? Called us dirty debutants?,' Mulkey said. 'Take your phone out right now and Google dirty debutantes and tell me what it says. 

'Dirty debutantes? Are you kidding me? I'm not going to let you talk about 18-to-21-year-old kids in that tone.

'It was even sexist for this reporter to say UCLA was milk and cookies.'

One of Mulkey's players - transfer guard Hailey Van Lith - accused the writer of racism. She is one of two white players in a group of twelve women.

'We do have a lot of Black women on this team, and unfortunately, that bias does exist still today, and a lot of the people that are making those comments are being racist towards my teammates,' Van Lith said.

'I'm in a unique situation where I see with myself, I'll talk trash and I'll get a different reaction than if Angel [Reese] talks trash.

'I have a duty to my teammates to have their back. Some of the words that were used in that article were very sad and upsetting.

LSU head coach Kim Mulkey blasted the article and even called the writer sexist

Guard Hailey Van Lith - one of just two white players on the team - accused the writer of racism

'Calling us the dirty debutantes, that has nothing to do with sports. That's not motivating. 

'But in my opinion, I know for a fact that people see us differently because we do have a lot of Black women on our team who have an attitude and like to talk trash and people feel a way about it.

'At the end of the day, I'm rocking with them because they don't let that change who they are. They stay true to themselves, and so I'll have their back.'

Earlier on Saturday, the Washington Post published a profile on Mulkey that the coach prematurely called a 'hit piece' before it was even published.

She said that she hasn't read the article and that she'd leave it to her lawyers.