Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers commanded significant focus in the college basketball realm throughout the 2023-24 season, drawing both praise and criticism. Mulkey spoke to a packed audience at LSU’s Maravich Center on April 11, intending to commemorate LSU’s season. However, in her address, Mulkey disclosed the challenges that hindered LSU from replicating the success of the previous season.
“The distractions that came from winning that national championship, I don’t think I’ve ever seen in my entire life.” Mulkey said, according to NOLA.com. “The things that have been printed, the lies that have been told — for what reason?”
Despite LSU reaching the Elite Eight and concluding the 2023-24 season with an impressive 31-6 record, their defeat against Caitlin Clark’s Iowa team, whom they had previously defeated in the National Championship game, left a sour note.
While Mulkey didn’t explicitly detail the “lies” she hinted at in her speech, she did mention a contentious April 1 Los Angeles Times article, initially labeling the team as ‘dirty debutantes’ before the phrase was retracted.
Yet, the LA Times piece wasn’t the sole distraction LSU faced.
Angel Reese’s Midseason Absence Sparked Drama
A significant distraction for LSU during the 2023-24 season was the conspicuous absence of Angel Reese for four games. Reese didn’t disclose the reason for her decision to step away from the team in November. However, upon her return, she cited prioritizing her mental health as a contributing factor.
“Mental health is the most important thing before anything, and I’m going to make sure I’m OK before anything because I don’t want to cause harm or any discord in the locker room,” Reese stated.
During Reese’s absence, her mother, Angel Webb Reese, engaged in an online altercation with Kia Brooks, the mother of Reese’s teammate Flau’Jae Johnson. The conflict arose after Reese criticized Brooks’ grammar in an Instagram post. In response, Brooks accused Reese of being petty, fake, and hateful, and made allegations about Reese’s daughter’s academic performance.
Although claims regarding Reese’s absence being related to academics were never confirmed, the incident highlighted how LSU attracted attention during the season for matters unrelated to basketball.
Where Does LSU Go From Here?
Less than two weeks after the conclusion of her team’s season, Kim Mulkey is already confronting new challenges. Guard Hailey Van Lith announced her entry into the transfer portal on April 4, followed by Angel Reese’s declaration for the WNBA Draft just one day later.
At first glance, the loss of these two prominent players doesn’t bode well for LSU’s future success on the court. That’s an undeniable reality in terms of on-court performance. However, it’s possible that LSU’s departure of household names could lead to a greater focus on basketball and fewer outside distractions.
Mulkey’s Tigers will still have Flau’Jae Johnson returning, alongside the addition of highly-touted freshman point guard Jada Richard to the team next season. Even without Reese, LSU possesses enough talent to compete for an SEC Championship in 2025.
Nevertheless, any team coached by Mulkey will inevitably remain under the spotlight.
