--Bayou Weekly Staff--
Ever since the LSU Women’s Basketball team made a historic run to win the 2023 NCAA National Championship, the team - loaded with its star players and Hall of Fame head coach Kim Mulkey - has remained under the spotlight
From sophomore Flau’jae Johnson’s latest rap single to Angel Reese’s record-breaking NIL deals, the star-studded team has garnered national attention both on and off of the court. Head coach Kim Mulkey seems to frequent national attention as well, whether by singing country music in a post-game press conference or storming onto the court after a missed call. Critics have found every reason to hate against this group of personalities, and a simple click under any ESPN post about the Lady Tigers unleashes an assault of online hate.
The defending national champs have rolled on, however, and they have done so in true “show” fashion. Despite a mid-season skid against SEC teams like Mississippi State and Auburn, the team has fought hard and is bound for their second consecutive Sweet 16. This comes in the midst of forced distraction as Head Coach Kim Mulkey had to respond to a “sleazy” Washington Post reporter using the distraction of the NCAA tournament to release what Mulkey called a “hit piece.”
The truth is this team is the best when their personalities shine - and that includes Head Coach Kim Mulkey. Rather than drowning out the noise, the team and coaches need to embrace it. They are loved in the Red Stick city for who they are, and women’s basketball is growing because the LSU women’s basketball team has built a showcase brand.
This team - when healthy and locked in - is as good as any team in the country. Just last year, Coach Kim Mulkey said that it is “South Carolina and then everyone else,” and while that may be true regarding the legacy and depth of recent seasons, LSU has proven twice that they can hang with the Lady Gamecocks. If LSU can use the noise to fuel their “show,” then basketball fans across the country can pencil in Sunday, April 7, for a third game featuring the LSU Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks.