Kim Mulkey has been a topic of conversation for several days. Besides LSU’s run to the Elite Eight, Mulkey is currently embroiled in a feud with the Washington Post. The buzz has started when Mulkey spoke at a press conference last week, addressing rumors about a Washington Post article about him. THE LSU women’s basketball the head coach threatened legal action against the media outlet if a false story was published.
The article in question was made public on Saturday and Mulkey was recently asked if she had crossed the room.
“I didn’t read that bullshit,” Mulkey said, according to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic. “I won’t. That’s why I have lawyers.”
Kim Mulkey’s clash with the media
The much-discussed article touches on many topics, such as Mulkey’s rise at LSU, his relationship with his father and his (alleged) handling of former players.
Looking back at her press conference last week, what angered Mulkey even more was how the reporter behind the “hit piece” had continually tried to get in touch with her, even in the midst of LSU’s March Madness campaign.
“Usually I wouldn’t discuss media rumors about me, but I felt the need to speak publicly about what exactly this Washington Post reporter has been doing over the past few years and the lengths he has gone to trying to put together a hit story. This reporter has been working on a story about me for two years. After two years of trying to get me to sit down with him for an interview, he contacted LSU on Tuesday, as we prepared for the first round game of this tournament, with more of a dozen questions, requiring a response from Thursday, just before the scheduled alert time (according to Randall Barnes of ClutchPoints).
Besides the Washington Post, Mulkey also called the LA Times after the Tigers’ Sweet 16 victory over UCLA. The Los Angeles-based outlet recently published an article aimed at promoting the upcoming matchup between LSU and Iowa. One of the article’s descriptions of LSU was “dirty newbies,” which Mulkey objected to.
“I’m not going to let you attack young people… it was so sexist… evil… calling us dirty debutantes? How dare you?” Mulkey said, according to Benedetto Vitale of ClutchPoints.
The LA Times has since updated the article.
Mulkey, LSU women’s basketball continue quest for back-to-back titles
Despite being portrayed by many as villains, Mulkey and LSU showed they were a formidable team on the field. Having won a national championship last year, the Tigers are three wins away from claiming the crown again.
LSU clinched second place in the SEC this season, concluding its pre-March Madness campaign with a 28-5 record (13-3 in conference). Led by star striker Angel Reese, the team continues its winning streak in the ongoing tournament. LSU beat Rice and Middle Tennesee in the first two rounds to set up a Sweet 16 matchup against UCLA.
Against the Bruins, the Tigers reminded everyone why they are still favorites for the title despite the outside noise. Flau’jae Johnson scored 24 points while Aneesah Morrow and Reese added 17 and 16 points (respectively) to defeat their number two opponents, 78-69. LSU trailed by one with less than two minutes remaining, but free throws and a crucial block by Reese led to a momentum shift. A Johnson layup pushed the Tigers within four points with 46 seconds left and free throws ultimately sealed the game for Kim Mulkey’s team.
Moving forward, a highly anticipated rematch with Caitlin Clark and Iowa is expected to take place. Many fans may root for the Hawkeyes, but as Angel Reese said herself, the Tigers are the “good bad guys.” LSU women’s basketball knows many are rooting for them to fall. They don’t care. Whether the fans like it or not, they will continue to call bullshit and play their game because that’s what good villains do.
