LSU’s Hailey Van Lith Says Media Got Caitlin Clark’s Taunting Gesture All Wrong

This year's women's NCAA tournament provided some of the most widely discussed sports moments of 2023, as Iowa guard Caitlin Clark alternated between throttling opponents on the court and taunting them off of it.

However, current LSU and former Louisville guard Hailey Van Lith suggested Monday that there was more to Clark’s gestures than met the eye—especially her use of WWE legend John Cena’s famous “You can’t see me gesture” in the Elite Eight against the Cardinals.

“Right after the game I texted her and I was like, ‘The media is dumb.’ I’m sorry. They just make stuff up and they just put it all over the Internet and everyone thinks it’s true,” Van Lith told Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report. “We were laughing about it because she did it to her strength coach. She didn’t do it to anyone on our team, especially me.”

In the Hawkeyes’ 97–83 win over Louisville, Clark dropped 41 points with 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Her virtuoso performance sent Iowa to its first Final Four in 30 years and contributed to her growing legend beyond traditional college sports circles.

It also sent Van Lith’s Cardinals packing, and she entered the transfer portal before committing to the Tigers on April 27.

“I didn’t even see it in the game,” Van Lith said. “I didn’t even know it happened until I saw it over Instagram later.”