Dawn Staley vs. Kim Mulkey: Measuring the Titans of Women’s College Basketball
Women’s college basketball has been defined in recent years by two towering figures: South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and LSU’s Kim Mulkey. Between them, they’ve claimed the last three national championships — Staley in 2022 and 2024, Mulkey in 2023 — further cementing their status as the sport’s standard-bearers.
Mulkey’s résumé stretches well beyond LSU. Before arriving in Baton Rouge, she built a dynasty at Baylor, winning national titles in 2005, 2012 and 2019, including a historic 40-0 season in 2012. She left the Bears in 2021 with a staggering 632-104 career record and a 291-61 mark in NCAA Tournament play. Mulkey wasted little time making her mark at LSU, capturing her fourth national championship in just her second season.
Staley’s rise followed a different arc. She began her head coaching career at Temple in 2000, guiding the Owls to six NCAA Tournament appearances before taking over at South Carolina in 2008. The Gamecocks reached a turning point in 2012, beginning a run of 12 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (excluding the canceled 2020 event), highlighted by national championships in 2017, 2022 and 2024. Her career record stands at 612-186, including a 199-55 postseason mark, and she led South Carolina to a perfect 38-0 season in 2023–24.
Edge in coaching record: Mulkey
While Mulkey holds the advantage in total national championships and overall winning percentage, Staley has closed the gap significantly in recent seasons — especially head-to-head.
After Mulkey won two of the first three matchups between the two coaches, Staley has flipped the script, winning four straight to take a 5-2 edge overall. That run included a 76-70 regular-season win last year, followed by a tense, physical 79-72 victory in the SEC Tournament final.
Head-to-head advantage: Staley
Beyond wins and losses, both coaches boast elite basketball pedigrees. As players, each starred at point guard and represented the United States on the international stage. Mulkey won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1983 Pan-American Games. Staley’s playing career was even more decorated, with Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000 and 2004, along with two Women’s World Cup titles.
Staley’s international success has continued on the sidelines. She guided Team USA to gold medals at the 2018 World Cup, the 2020 Olympics, the 2007 Pan-American Games, and the 2019 and 2021 FIBA AmeriCups. Individually, she has earned four USBWA National Coach of the Year awards, surpassing Mulkey’s three. Both coaches also share seven conference coach-of-the-year honors — Mulkey in the Big 12, Staley in the SEC.
Notable achievements advantage: Staley
When stacked side by side, Staley holds a slight edge in international impact, recent head-to-head success, and overall influence on the global game. Mulkey, however, still stands out for her four national championships and long-term dominance across multiple programs.
The rivalry remains far from settled. Staley’s recent success reflects the sustained strength of South Carolina’s roster and culture, while Mulkey’s proven ability to rebuild and reload suggests LSU could swing the balance again. As long as both are on the sidelines, the women’s NCAA Tournament will continue to orbit around their clash at the top.
