The LSU Tigers have a problem and her name is Kim Mulkey.
After her team’s loss to South Carolina on Sunday, which ended in controversy as the teams almost got into a brawl, rather than take the high road as her counterpart Dawn Staley did, Mulkey essentially encouraged fighting.
Staley apologized for her team’s actions, saying she was embarrassed.
“I want to apologize to the basketball community for us playing a part in that, that’s not who we are,” she said. “Your emotions get the best of you.”
"I just want to apologize to the basketball community… When you're playing in championship games like this, in our league, things get heated. No bad intentions… I want to apologize for us playing a part in that… That's not who we are & not what we're about." – Dawn Staley https://t.co/tmSoTsRcOj pic.twitter.com/0LEDwcudKW
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 10, 2024
Mulkey on the other hand, said she wished the South Carolina player had picked on Angel Reese.
“I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese, you don’t push a girl who is that size when you’re 6’7,” Mulkey said.
Kim Mulkey after the incident between South Carolina and LSU:
"No one wants to see that ugliness. But I can tell you this – I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese. You're 6'8. Don't push somebody that little. That was uncalled for in my opinion." pic.twitter.com/TwzO8hn3K5
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 10, 2024
Earlier in the game, Reese pulled the Gamecock’s Kamilla Cardoso’s hair. Cardoso was later thrown out of the game for her involvement in the pushing and shoving. Many think that the initial incident may have caused tensions to rise between the two schools.
Cardoso now faces the possibility of not being able to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Which brings us back to Mulkey. You have to wonder if she is encouraging her players to play what some call dirty basketball.
Shannon Sharpe takes issue with Kim Mulkey's response to the South Carolina-LSU fight: "We've got to start doing a better job of holding Kim Mulkey accountable and responsible for some of her comments. We let that stuff fly because she's a national champion. I refuse to do that.… pic.twitter.com/yFtucmVj1l
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 11, 2024
It wouldn’t be shocking. Mulkey doesn’t seem to mind courting controversy. She did it last year when Brittney Griner was in Russia. While Staley and other coaches around the country supported Griner, Mulkey, who coached Griner at Baylor, refused to comment on her. It was her right not to do so, however, it was strange and seemed personal.
A lot of sports commentators feel that if Staley had said or done some of the things that Mulkey has done over the years, she’d be called out for it much worse. In fact, she and her team would probably be called “thugs,” a dog-whistle word that’s been used against her and her players before.
Mulkey doesn’t seem to get called out for her actions in the same way. Many think it’s because she has won national championships, but Staley has won national championships, too.
It’s a battle of sorts between the two to become the coaching face of women’s college basketball, and perhaps even women’s athletics. While Staley speaks out on behalf of her players, Mulkey is more well-known for her wacky outfits.
Her obnoxious, flamboyant wardrobe seems to match her attitude as well and some people are embracing it, but is it good for women’s sport?
Trash talk is one thing, but encouraging violence is another. Sunday’s fight really could have gotten out of hand, especially a some player’s family members started to come out of the stands too.
Mulkey is starting to become a problem for the sport and the fact that she isn’t called out about her actions more is almost enabling her to continue with her questionable behavior.
It might take another coach like Staley or Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies to say enough is enough before things really get out of hand.
