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Within the wake of LSU head ladies’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey threatening legal action if the story dropped, Kent Babb of the Washington Put up printed a profile Saturday on Mulkey and her behind-the-scenes teaching type.
Mulkey, 61, is within the midst of her third season as the top coach at LSU and beforehand spent 21 seasons as the top coach at Baylor, and Babb’s article centered on each stints and featured accounts from present and former members of each applications.
Some former gamers informed Babb that for all of her success, together with profitable three nationwide championships at Baylor and one at LSU, Mulkey has had a penchant for holding heated group conferences.
Gamers who’ve performed for Mulkey mentioned staffers have at occasions “mitigated the chance” of Mulkey’s tongue-lashings getting recorded by confiscating gamers’ telephones beforehand.
A particular instance given occurred in 2022, someday after two LSU gamers bought right into a heated altercation.
Mulkey allegedly “went ballistic” on the group, with one individual current for the assembly saying, “My remorse on this life, I did not report this assembly.”
Additionally it is alleged that Mulkey has used intimidation techniques, together with making an attempt to embarrass gamers by making them weigh in in entrance of the group.
Kelli Griffin, who performed for Mulkey at Baylor from 2007 to 2010, and different former gamers informed Babb that Mulkey usually used that tactic and different types of “disgrace” to get the specified outcomes from her gamers, together with calling out gamers throughout practices and conferences.
Griffin expressed her perception that Mulkey started treating her in another way when she came upon she was homosexual.
Griffin mentioned, “Kim Mulkey is an incredible coach; the explanation I went to Baylor is due to her,” however added that Mulkey “made my life hell.”
Mulkey and her attorneys denied allegations that she handled homosexual gamers “extra harshly or in another way” than others and included statements from a number of gamers to assist her account.
Former Baylor participant Morghan Medlock mentioned she was in a relationship with Griffin and famous that she by no means noticed Mulkey mistreat Griffin or another homosexual participant.
Former Baylor and LSU participant Alexis Morris declared, “Coach Mulkey just isn’t homophobic.”
Probably the most notable participant coached by Mulkey throughout her time was Brittney Griner, who received a nationwide title at Baylor earlier than occurring to change into a nine-time WNBA All-Star.
Per Babb, Griner wrote in her memoir that Mulkey inspired gamers to “hold your enterprise behind closed doorways.”
Griner did not come out as homosexual till after taking part in her remaining sport at Baylor, however she additionally wrote in her memoir that Mulkey usually chalked up any private points she was having to “girlfriend issues.”
Earlier than Saturday’s story was launched, Mulkey addressed it throughout a press convention final week, calling it a “hit piece” and questioning the timing since LSU is at present within the NCAA match.
Per ESPN, Mulkey added: “I’ve employed the most effective defamation regulation agency within the nation, and I’ll sue the Washington Put up in the event that they publish a false story about me.”
Mulkey’s LSU group, which received the nationwide title final season, is a No. 3 seed on this yr’s match and superior to the Elite Eight with a 78-69 win over No. 2 seed UCLA on Saturday.
Chatting with ESPN’s Holly Rowe earlier than Saturday’s sport, Mulkey mentioned she has not but learn the story.
“I can inform you I have not learn it,” she mentioned. “Do not know that I’ll learn it. I am going to go away that as much as my attorneys.”
