UConn's Paige Bueckers speech about racial bias at the 2021 ESPY Awards resurfaces after LA Times column called LSU 'dirty debutants'

While Paige Bueckers was leading UConn women's basketball to another Final Four on Monday night, a clip of her from the 2021 ESPY Awards has resurfaced where she talked about racial bias. 

Bueckers' acceptance speech from three years ago went viral in part due to a Los Angeles Times from over the weekend that labeled LSU women's basketball team as 'dirty debutants'.

The column drew immediate backlash for being 'sexist' and was updated online for not meeting the outlet's editorial standards. 

It also prompted LSU star Hailey Van Lith, one of the Tigers' two white players on a roster of a dozen, to say that negative comments about the team are fueled by racism. 

Bueckers speech felt timely, even though she has yet to speak directly on the matter since the LA Times' piece was published. 

Bueckerts won the 'Female College Athlete' of the year award at the 2021 ESPY Awards

Bueckers has been one of college basketball's most popular players for the last few years

'With the light that I have now, as a white woman who leads a Black-led sport and is celebrated here, I want to show a light on Black women. They don't get the media coverage that they deserve,' Bueckers said in 2021. 

'They've given so much to this sport and the community and society as a whole and their value is undeniable,' Bueckers added. 'In the WNBA last season, the postseason awards, 80 percent of the winners were Black, but they got half the amount of coverage as the white athletes.'

'I think its time for change, sports media holds the key to storylines. Sports media and sponsors tell us who is valuable,' Bueckers continued. 'And you have told the world that I matter today.'

'Everyone who voted, thank you, but I think we should use this power together to also celebrate Black women,' Bueckers stated. 

Bueckers led UConn to another Final Four by defeating USC in the Elite Eight on Monday

Bueckers has been one of the biggest stars in college basketball since starting her career with UConn in 2020.  

On Monday night, she was integral in helping the Huskies defeat USC in the Elite Eight. 

Now, Bueckers will face Caitlin Clark for the first time in college, as Iowa plays UConn in the Final Four on Friday. 

Clark and Bueckers were the two-highest rated point guards in the Class of 2020, with Bueckers being the No 1 player in the country and Clark coming in at No 4.