LSU is into the Sweet 16, but not without its share of questions.
On Friday, word spread that the Washington Post was close to publishing a piece on head coach Kim Mulkey. It was implied that the piece was going to be investigative in nature. One day later, Mulkey confirmed the article’s existence, which she deemed a “hit piece,” in a four-minute personal statement during her press conference.
She called out the timing of the article, while also saying that the reporter for the Washington Post had been reaching out to her over the last two years. Mulkey also threatened legal action, noting that she’s hired “the best defamation law firm in the country.”
“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 going to let the Washington Post attack this university, this awesome team of young women I have, or me without a fight,” Mulkey said at a news conference.
“I’ve hired the best defamation law firm in the country, and I will sue the Washington Post if they publish a false story about me. Not many people are in a position to hold these kinds of journalists accountable, but I am, and I’ll do it.”
In her statement, Mulkey said that the Post had reached out to “disgruntled players.”
“Former players have told me that the Washington Post has contacted them and offered to let them be anonymous in a story if they’ll say negative things about me,” she said. “The Washington Post has called former disgruntled players to get negative quotes to include in their story. They’re ignoring the 40-plus years of positive stories that people – or they have heard from people about me.”
If the report is, in fact, focused on disgruntled former players, this wouldn't be the first time Mulkey has been criticized by those who played under her.
Back in 2013, former Baylor star Brittney Griner told ESPN that Mulkey told players not to be open about their sexuality. When Griner was later unlawfully detained in Russia in 2022, Mulkey declined to speak publicly about her former star player until after she was released. The two won a national championship together in 2012.
On Sunday, Mulkey said that she hasn’t spoken to her players about her statement regarding the article.
"Listen, man, we're not going to let one sleazy reporter distract us from what we're trying to do. Absolutely not," Mulkey said. "My kids didn't even know I said that yesterday. That team is not involved in this. They were in shock when they saw all that on the internet."
Players backed Mulkey up after the win, a game in which they once again started slow, falling down at the half, before pulling away and beating Middle Tennessee 83-56.
"Coach Mulkey's had our back all year, so we've got to have Coach Mulkey's back," said forward Aneesah Morrow, who scored 19 points. "We've got to play hard and for one another -- and that's as simple as it is."
