Kim Mulkey says LSU is 'still working' at building program after winning national championship

LSU just reached the mountaintop all of two days ago when it comes to women’s college basketball. Still, Kim Mulkey knows the Tigers have big plans ahead of them, including as early as next season.

Following their national title win on Sunday, Mulkey did note how big it was to hang a banner in her second season. From there, though, she highlighted all the ways that she thinks Baton Rouge and the program are ready for even more considering how this year went and what next year could look like.

“Well, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. We grew it…and it was kind of scary because I kept trying to tame that monster. I said we may be feeding this monster too early,” admitted Mulkey. “But the crowds just kept getting bigger and bigger. And the student section is off the charts at LSU.”

“We’re national champions in year two and we’re not all seniors. We lose four outstanding seniors but the core of our group is young and underclass. And you hope they stay,” Mulkey said. “Lord knows every time you turn around you’ve got to deal with people in the transfer portal. But we signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country. And that was before we won a national championship.”

The three leading scorers for LSU against Iowa in Dallas were all grad students or fifth-year seniors. Even so, they will have plenty of talent for another run back in the bayou next season.

For one, they bring back the most important piece which is Angel Reese. Kateri Poole will also join her as they pair up as juniors while Flau’je Johnson and Sa’Myah Smith head in as sophomores. Add in a top class of freshmen and it seems like Mulkey will indeed have a roster that can make some magic again in ’23-’24.

However, Mulkey did go ahead and put a disclaimer out now about how next season might end. It’s hard enough to win one national championship so, considering all things, she wants some slack if they don’t find a way to repeat a year from now. Even so, Mulkey is still motivating herself and her program to strive for that and more because of how winners thrive at their school.

“I don’t want one negative thing written if we don’t win a national championship next year, okay? I’m telling you all in advance,” Mulkey stated. “They’re hard to do.”

“We haven’t even won an SEC Championship. We’re working, we’re working,” said Mulkey. “And when they come to visit LSU? I can’t describe it to you. People love winners at LSU.”