March Madness: Kim Mulkey of the LSU faces the criticism from Stephen to Smith
Star Espn Stephen A. Smith called LSU women’s basketball Coach Kim Mulkey Monday after his interaction with a reporter student following an elite defeat for the UCLA.
The journalist started his question noting that it was the second consecutive year that the LSU had been eliminated in the eight -eight, and Mulkey silenced himself, asking if he was good or “terrible”. The journalist replied: “terrible”. Mulkey followed by asking: “How many Four Finali Games? “
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The LSU Lady Tigers coach Kim Mulkey looks against UCLA Bruins during the second half of a basketball match of the NCAA Tournament of Elite at the NCAA at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington, on March 30, 2025. (James Snook-Immagn Images)
Mulkey’s exchange became viral and led to the Smith reaction in “First Take”.
“I am not going to get away from the fact that Kim Mulkey is a great coach and an established coach,” Smith said. “We just have to say it finally on her – she is very rude. She is very, very rude. She is rude, she is condescending and unnecessarily so for too many people.
“And it is always with the right one. It does not go from the wrong one. It is almost as if you know, Shannon (Sharpe), to those who do it and to those who do not do it.
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Stephen A. Smith on the ESPN NBA Countdown Live Set at Intuit Dome. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)
Mulkey has some history with journalists in general.
Before the start of the tournament, Mulkey called a journalist to eat during his press conference after the tigers lost in Texas sec tournament.
Last year he disseminated a journalist from the Washington Post for a story on how he presumably treated gay players while he was the head of Baylor’s coach. He called the journalist “Sleazy”.
Mulkey he also called the Los Angeles Times for a column that described the tigers as “bad” and “dirty debutant”, describing the shot as sexist. The paper subsequently changed the column.
The LSU Tigers coach Kim Mulkey and his team face the State of Florida in the second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament in Baton Rouge, in Louisiana, Monday 24 March 2025. (Scott Claruso
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Mulkey is one of the most successful women’s basketball coaches in the NCAA. It has 754-124 all times with four championships and five final appearances.
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