LSU’s Coach Kim Mulkey Timeline Of Controversies Explained

Following social media rumors that the Washington Post is going to publish a story on the LSU women’s basketball coach, Kim Mulkey has vowed to sue the publication.

LSU’s Coach Kim Mulkey Timeline Of Controversies Explained

Mulkey, one of the most well-known college basketball coaches, guided LSU to the NCAA championship game the previous season. Nonetheless, she attacked the Washington Post and journalists in general during a news conference on Saturday.

Mulkey created a dynasty during her 21-year run as Baylor’s head coach and won three national championships during that time. She has brought life to the program since returning to her native Louisiana as the Tigers’ coach, guiding them to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament each  of the last three seasons and capturing her fourth national title last spring, the first in program history for LSU.

“Reporters who give a megaphone to a one-sided embellished version of things aren’t trying to tell the truth,” she said. “They’re trying to sell newspapers and feed the click machine. This is exactly why people don’t trust journalists and the media anymore. It’s these kinds of sleazy tactics and hatchet jobs that people are just tired of. I’m fed up and I’m not gonna let the Washington Post attack this university, this awesome team of young women I have, or me, without a fight.”

Mulkey didn’t name the journalist in question but said that she “felt the need to publicly address what exactly this reporter for the Washington Post has been doing the past several years. And the lengths he has gone to try and put a hit piece together … I told this reporter two years ago that I didn’t appreciate the hit job he wrote on [LSU football coach] Brian Kelly, and that’s why I wasn’t going to do an interview with him.”

Well the root if all controversies stared in 2021.

2021: Mulkey calls to ‘dump’ COVID-19 testing at Final Four

Mulkey drew criticism for remarks she made before to the Final Four advocating to “dump” COVID-19 testing at the risk of a Final Four team being forced to withdraw after her Baylor team lost in the Elite Eight in the COVID-affected 2021 NCAA tournament.

A few other coaches, including as Geno Auriemma of UConn, supported Mulkey’s remarks. Even still, considering the precautions taken to stop the virus’s spread—including hosting the whole 2021 tournament in the San Antonio region—they were undoubtedly controversial at the time.

2022: Mulkey declines to comment on Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia

Many looked to Mulkey, who coached Griner in college, for reaction when WNBA player and former Baylor basketball star Brittney Griner was wrongly jailed for almost ten months after being arrested in Russia in February 2022 for marijuana possession.

The encouragement that Griner received from current Baylor coach Nicki Collen following her incarceration stood in sharp contrast to that. Given the 2013 claims made by Griner, who came out publicly earlier that year, that Mulkey forbade athletes from talking about their sexual orientation while they were at Baylor, it was particularly noteworthy.

2023: Mulkey peeved by questions about Angel Reese’s absence

The outstanding player Angel Reese, who helped lead the Tigers to a national championship the previous season, was significantly absent for four games in November of 2023–24; the cause for his absence was not revealed. This was one of the most noteworthy tales from the collegiate basketball season.

Kateri Poole, a rotational player, was fired from the club around the same time, however the two incidents don’t appear to be connected. Nevertheless, Mulkey chose to vent her annoyance at the media’s persistent inquiries over Reese’s whereabouts rather than providing much clarification when questioned about her star player.

2024: Mulkey seemingly takes a swipe at Iowa’s Caitlin Clark

One of the best rivalries in sports right now is the developing one between LSU and Iowa, who played each other in the national championship game the previous season. Given the remarks Mulkey made earlier in the season, there may be more motivation for the two to face off in a potential Elite Eight showdown this season.

Mulkey made what appeared to be a jab at Hawkeye standout Caitlin Clark back in January when he said that no Tigers player was “shooting 40 times a game.” That is difficult to interpret as a critique of the accurate shooter Clark, who this season became the Division I scoring leader all-time.

What is Kim Mulkey upset about?

Mulkey declared, “I’ll do it. Not many people are in a position to hold these kinds of journalists accountable.” Mulkey said that Babb had attempted to mislead her former assistant coaches into speaking with him by creating the appearance that Mulkey had consented to an interview.

Why is Kim Mulkey suing?

The writer is allegedly “trying to trick” Mulkey’s former LSU coaches. According to her, the reporter implied that they were with Mulkey and collaborating on a story in the texts that were left. Since the story hasn’t been released yet, it’s unclear if Mulkey has sufficient evidence to file a lawsuit.

What is the Kim Mulkey story?

Mulkey has already faced criticism for allegedly pressuring former athletes to be silent about their sexual orientation. Mulkey advised Griner not to come out as homosexual, even though she had been more outspoken about it with teammates and other people in her life, the top Baylor player told ESPN.

 

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