LSU Women’s Basketball Advances to Sweet 16 Amid Coach Mulkey’s Controversy with Washington Post
The third-seeded LSU Tigers displayed their resilience and determination as they overcame a slow start to defeat the eleventh-ranked Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, 83-56, on Sunday, securing their spot in the Women’s March Madness Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year. However, LSU’s campaign in this year’s tournament has been marred by a controversy surrounding their head coach, Kim Mulkey.
Distraction from the Washington Post: A Long-Standing Issue
The defending champions displayed an impressive performance at Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but the atmosphere was far from ideal as Mulkey has been locked in a spat with a reporter from The Washington Post. Mulkey claimed that the journalist had attempted to interview her for the past two years and reached out to the school on Tuesday, requesting answers to over a dozen questions by Thursday.
Mulkey’s Criticism of The Washington Post: Reasons Unknown
Although Mulkey has been highly critical of The Washington Post, she has yet to reveal the specifics of the story that the paper has been working on or the reasons behind her attacks. A spokesperson from The Washington Post declined to comment on Mulkey’s remarks, which were made before LSU’s victory.
LSU’s Second Half Surge: Hailey Van Lith Leads the Charge
Despite the distractions off the court, Mulkey denied that they had impacted her team’s performance during the first half. The Tigers trailed by four points at halftime but came out stronger in the second period, with Hailey Van Lith’s defensive prowess igniting their offense. From that point on, LSU outscored Middle Tennessee 51-20.
Double-Doubles Galore: Angel Reese, Flau’Jae Johnson, and Aneesah Morrow Lead the Offense
Angel Reese continued her impressive form, recording her 14th consecutive double-double (her 25th of the season) with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Flau’Jae Johnson contributed 21 points, while Aneesah Morrow also had a double-double (19 points and 13 rebounds). Mikaylah Williams added 16 points to seal the victory, which ended Middle Tennessee’s impressive 20-game winning streak.
Postgame Reflections: Angel Reese and Kim Mulkey
“I didn’t want to let my team down,” Reese shared afterwards. “I didn’t want this to be my last game here at the PMAC. So I did whatever it takes to win. And me and Coach have that kind of relationship where she can get on me and talk to me, like, ‘I need you,’ and give me the encouragement that I need.”
A Historic Achievement: LSU in the Sweet 16 for the Sixteenth Time
LSU’s qualification for the Sweet 16 marked the sixteenth time the team has achieved this milestone in their history and the first time since 2013-14 that they have done it back-to-back seasons. The Tigers will face either the second-seeded UCLA Bruins or the seventh-seeded Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, March 30, in the next round.
Freshman Guard Johnson: Gratitude for the Home Crowd
“I couldn’t hear at one point at PMAC,” Johnson shared with reporters after the game. “I didn’t hear the play calls. I couldn’t hear what was going on. It was so much fun. I love playing here at LSU, and everything going on is amazing. Now to be able to advance in my second year here, it’s just amazing.”
The Road to Albany: The Tigers Prepare for the Next Challenge
As the Tigers gear up for their next challenge, they can take comfort in the unwavering support of their devoted fan base at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Their journey to Albany is just beginning, and with their team spirit and determination, they are poised to make the most of every moment on the court. #GeauxTigers
