Kim Mulkey Explains the Reasons Behind LSU’s Poor Season

Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers commanded attention throughout the 2023-24 college basketball season, experiencing both triumphs and challenges. During a celebration at LSU’s Maravich Center on April 11, Mulkey addressed a packed stadium, shedding light on the obstacles that hindered LSU’s efforts to replicate their previous season’s success.

Mulkey expressed frustration over the distractions stemming from their national championship win, citing printed falsehoods and unspecified lies that affected the team. Despite LSU’s achievement of reaching the Elite Eight and concluding the season with a 31-6 record, their loss to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team, whom they defeated in the previous season’s National Championship game, left a bitter taste.

Mulkey specifically mentioned a controversial article published by the Los Angeles Times on April 1, which initially referred to the team as ‘dirty debutantes’ before the phrase was later removed. This article was just one of several distractions faced by LSU throughout the season.

One significant distraction occurred when Angel Reese, a key player, took a conspicuous four-game absence without explanation in November. While Reese cited prioritizing her mental health upon her return, her absence sparked drama, including an online altercation between her mother and the mother of her teammate, Flau’Jae Johnson.

Despite these challenges, Mulkey’s team persevered, but fresh adversity emerged less than two weeks after the season’s end. Guard Hailey Van Lith announced her entry into the transfer portal on April 4, followed by Reese’s declaration for the WNBA Draft the next day.

While losing these high-profile players may seem detrimental to LSU’s on-court performance, it could provide an opportunity for the team to focus more on basketball and less on external distractions. With returning players like Johnson and incoming freshman Jada Richard, LSU still possesses the potential to contend for an SEC Championship in 2025, albeit under the continued scrutiny that comes with being coached by Mulkey.