Don’t write Kim Mulkey’s obituary just yet.
Following LSU’s heartbreaking 87-85 Sweet 16 loss to Duke — sealed by Ashlon Jackson’s miraculous buzzer-beater — rumors began swirling on social media that Mulkey was considering retirement. The LSU head coach moved quickly to shut that down, making clear she has no intention of walking away from the program she rebuilt into a national power.
Mulkey didn’t just deny the reports — she took direct aim at the noise itself, calling out the misinformation spreading across social platforms and demanding it stop. The message was unambiguous: she’s staying, she’s competing, and anyone who thought a painful tournament exit would push her toward the door misread her entirely.
It’s a response that feels entirely on-brand for Mulkey, who has never shied away from a fight — on the sideline or off it.
The Rivalry That Defines Women’s Basketball
Which brings us to what Mulkey’s return really means for the sport: the most compelling rivalry in women’s college basketball isn’t going anywhere either.
The tension between Mulkey and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley has simmered for years, rooted in competing philosophies, competing programs, and a genuine mutual intensity that has elevated both teams. Staley has built South Carolina into a dynasty through culture, depth, and suffocating defense. Mulkey responded at LSU by recruiting at an elite level and constructing a program capable of matching the Gamecocks blow for blow — winning a national title in 2023 and returning to the sport’s top tier almost immediately.
Their programs have consistently met at the sport’s biggest moments, and every time they do, the stakes feel personal. That dynamic doesn’t fade just because LSU had a rough finish in Sacramento.
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What Comes Next
If anything, Mulkey’s refusal to step aside adds fuel to what should be a fascinating offseason. LSU will reload — that much is certain. Flau’jae Johnson, who was on the floor for Jackson’s dagger Friday night, is one of the most talented and marketable players in the country, and her presence alone ensures the Tigers remain a recruiting destination.
Meanwhile, South Carolina continues its pursuit of back-to-back championships, with Mulkey watching every step of that march from Baton Rouge.
The two programs are scheduled to meet again next season, and given the unresolved edge between their coaches, it will carry every bit of weight their previous meetings have. Mulkey’s confirmation that she isn’t retiring isn’t just program news — it’s a signal to Staley and everyone else in women’s basketball that LSU intends to be the roadblock standing between South Carolina and another title.
The rivalry lives. The competition continues. And women’s basketball is better for it.
