LSU's Kim Mulkey Denies Retirement Rumors After Sweet 16 Loss

The veteran coach says she plans to keep coaching at LSU despite speculation about her future.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:39am

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LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey adamantly denied rumors that she was considering retirement after her team's Sweet 16 loss to Duke. The 63-year-old coach, who has won national titles as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, said she is healthy and plans to keep coaching at LSU unless the school fires her or her health fails.

Why it matters

Mulkey is one of the most accomplished and respected coaches in women's basketball history, having won championships at multiple levels. Her continued presence at LSU is crucial for the program's success and recruiting efforts.

The details

Mulkey is in her fifth season at LSU, where she won the national championship in 2023 and made the Elite Eight in 2024 and 2025. She previously won three titles in 21 years at Baylor. Mulkey's staff is in transition, with two assistant coaches leaving for other jobs. The coach said she plans to quickly hire two new assistants and add two or three more players through the transfer portal.

  • On March 24, 2026, LSU lost to Duke in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Kim Mulkey

The head coach of the LSU women's basketball team, who has won national titles as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.

Flau'jae Johnson

The senior guard for LSU who is set to graduate and enter the WNBA draft.

MiLaysia Fulwiley

The leading scorer for LSU, a guard who comes off the bench and is one of the most electric players in the college game.

Mikaylah Williams

A forward for LSU who will be eligible to return next season.

ZaKiyah Johnson

An underclassman core piece for the LSU women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not retiring. Do I look that bad? I don't know where that came from. I'm only 63. And I'm healthy, with a few stents in my heart. Doctor says I'm good to go… As we get older, as coaches, they want to say, How much longer is she going to be in the game ? I'm going to be in this game unless LSU fires me, O.K., until I can't put a product on that floor that's competitive, or my health fails me.”

— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball

“Nothing I say is going to make them feel better in the moment. The sun will come up tomorrow and you're going to have wonderful memories from your time at LSU. And then you go and you hug each one of them and you let them cry… I don't find that a bad thing. If you don't cry, you're not really invested and you don't care. And it's O.K. to cry. It's O.K. to hurt. And then each day it gets better.”

— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball

What’s next

Mulkey said she plans to quickly hire two new assistant coaches to replace the departures and add two or three more players through the transfer portal.

The takeaway

Kim Mulkey's continued presence at LSU is crucial for the program's success and recruiting efforts. Despite the team's Sweet 16 loss and staff changes, the veteran coach remains committed to building a competitive program and has no plans to retire anytime soon.