Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers grabbed headlines throughout the 2023-24 college basketball season, drawing attention both positively and negatively.
Addressing a packed Maravich Center on April 11, Mulkey intended to celebrate LSU’s season but instead disclosed the challenges that hindered the team’s quest for continued success.
Mulkey highlighted the unprecedented distractions stemming from their previous national championship victory, denouncing the falsehoods and negative media attention.
Despite reaching the Elite Eight and concluding the season with a commendable 31-6 record, LSU’s defeat to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team, whom they had defeated in the previous season’s National Championship game, left a bitter taste.
While Mulkey did not specify the nature of the “lies” referenced in her speech, she cited the April 1 Los Angeles Times article, initially labeling the team as ‘dirty debutantes’, which was later amended. This article was just one of the many distractions LSU encountered.
One significant distraction was Angel Reese’s unexplained absence from four games during the season. Reese returned, citing prioritizing her mental health as a factor. Amid her absence, her mother engaged in an online altercation with the mother of her teammate Flau’Jae Johnson, further adding to the team’s off-court drama.
Looking ahead, Mulkey faces new challenges, including the departure of guard Hailey Van Lith and Reese’s declaration for the WNBA Draft.
Despite these setbacks, Mulkey’s Tigers retain talent like Johnson and incoming freshman point guard Jada Richard, hinting at continued competitiveness in the SEC Championship race for 2025. Nevertheless, Mulkey’s coaching will ensure that LSU remains under the spotlight, regardless of roster changes.
