Lindsay Gottlieb defends Chandler Prater amid online harassment

In a recent incident during a women's basketball game in the United States, JuJu Watkins of the University of Southern California sustained a season-ending ACL injury. This occurred in the first quarter of the Trojans' second-round victory over Mississippi State. As Watkins sprinted down the court, she had physical contact with Mississippi State player Chandler Prater, which resulted in her right knee buckling awkwardly. Immediately after the injury, Watkins was unable to stand and required assistance to leave the court. Subsequently, her injury was diagnosed as an ACL tear, ruling her out for the remainder of the season. The rapid escalation of online criticism aimed at Prater followed the incident. While many fans were distraught over Watkins' injury, some targeted Prater with hateful comments, labeling her a "dirty" player. The backlash intensified to the point where Prater disabled her social media comments due to the influx of negativity. Notably, Prater was attempting to play competitively and was not the cause of a reckless play, as emphasized by both herself and her coach. This online bullying drew the attention of USC's head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who publicly defended Prater and denounced the harassment. Gottlieb made her opinion clear, stating she did not believe Prater intended to harm Watkins and expressed her disapproval of the online bullying. She conveyed understanding for the passionate fanbase supporting Watkins but upheld that no young player deserves such treatment. Both coaches reiterated their stance that basketball is about competition and not about causing injury. Gottlieb's comments aimed to shift the narrative from blame towards promoting respect and compassion among players. Moving forward, USC planned to continue their season in a Sweet 16 matchup against Kansas State, struggling with the loss of one of their key players, JuJu Watkins. Despite the unfortunate incident, Coach Gottlieb mentioned the team's focus on unity and resilience to strive for success in the ongoing tournament. The broader concern regarding the culture of harassment in sports amplified discussions on player welfare and responsibility within competitive settings.