LSU's Kim Mulkey has strong response to upcoming article

LSU HC Kim Mulkey SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK

LSU HC Kim Mulkey unleashes strong statement in response to forthcoming Washington Post article

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/24/24

Less than 24 hours after LSU's sloppy performance in its opening-round victory over No. 14 Rice, the program now has a massive distraction on its hands.

On Saturday afternoon, head coach Kim Mulkey threatened to sue the Washington Post after unleashing a fierce and lengthy diatribe in response to an upcoming story about her.

"This is exactly why people don't trust journalists and the media anymore," Mulkey said. "I'm fed up, and I'm not going to let the Washington Post attack this university, this awesome team of young women I have, or me without a fight."

It's still unknown what the story will reveal, but Mulkey's reaction suggests that it won't portray the head coach in a positive light.

LSU coach Kim Mulkey began her press conference with an opening statement about an upcoming Washington Post article about her.

"This is exactly why people don't trust journalists and the media anymore. ... I will sue the Washington Post if they publish a false story about me." pic.twitter.com/k13R21yoLk
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 23, 2024

Mulkey alleges that an unnamed reporter from the Washington Post has been working on a story about her and unsuccessfully attempted to land one-on-one interviews for nearly two years. She claims that on March 19, the same reporter supplied LSU with over a dozen questions while "demanding answers" by March 21, the day before the Tigers opener in the NCAA Tournament.

She also accused the reporter of lying to her former coaches to coerce them into speaking and offering former players the option to be "anonymous" in the article if they said negative things about her.

Mulkey's threat to sue doesn't appear to be an empty one, either. During Saturday's prepared response, she claimed to have hired the "best defamation law firm in the country."

"Not many people are in a position to hold these kinds of journalists accountable, but I am," Mulkey said. "And I'll do it."

To garner this type of response, whatever the Washington Post has cooking can't be good for Mulkey or LSU. Without knowing the context of the article, though, it's impossible to say whether Saturday's aggressive statement marks the beginning or end of this situation.

But chances are a longstanding outfit like the Washington Post has done its due diligence and threats aren't likely to scare the story away. So, whatever Mulkey and company are trying so hard to get ahead of will probably come out. Sooner rather than later.

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