LSU's Kim Mulkey Shuts Down Retirement Talk: 'It's Just a Flat-Out Lie'

The Tigers' head coach dismissed rumors of her retirement after a Sweet 16 loss to Duke.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:20pm

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LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey firmly denied rumors of her retirement following the Tigers' Sweet 16 loss to Duke. Mulkey, who is under contract through the 2032-33 season, stated that the retirement reports were 'just a flat-out lie' and that she has no plans to step down anytime soon.

Why it matters

Mulkey is one of the most accomplished coaches in women's college basketball history, having won national championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Her continued presence at LSU is crucial for the program's success and stability, especially after a heartbreaking postseason defeat.

The details

During her postgame press conference, Mulkey responded to questions about her future, addressing rumors that had surfaced earlier in the day claiming she would retire after the season. The 63-year-old coach firmly denied those reports, stating that she has no plans to retire and that her doctors have cleared her to continue coaching. Mulkey emphasized that she will remain LSU's head coach unless the university decides to fire her or her health prevents her from putting a competitive team on the floor.

  • On March 28, 2026, LSU lost to Duke 87-85 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Kim Mulkey

The head coach of the LSU women's basketball team, who has led the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in all five of her seasons with the program. Mulkey is a legendary figure in women's college basketball, having won national championships as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.

Duke

The Duke University women's basketball team, which defeated LSU 87-85 on a buzzer-beater in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“I'm not retiring. I don't know where that came from. I'm only 63, and I'm healthy with a few stents in my heart; my doctors say I'm good to go. I have no clue where that stuff comes from. I've never, ever told anybody that.”

— Kim Mulkey, LSU Women's Basketball Head Coach

“There are moments where you feel like, 'Why am I doing this?' But I don't get how people can just write crap on social media. That has to make you all feel really bad as journalists.”

— Kim Mulkey, LSU Women's Basketball Head Coach

“I'm going to be in this game unless LSU fires me, okay? Until I can't put a product on that floor that's competitive or my health fails me. So I would appreciate all of you in here, whoever put that out, if you know who they are, you need to stop it when you see it, because it's just a flat-out lie.”

— Kim Mulkey, LSU Women's Basketball Head Coach

What’s next

Mulkey's contract with LSU runs through the 2032-33 season, so barring any unforeseen circumstances, she is expected to remain the Tigers' head coach for the foreseeable future.

The takeaway

Kim Mulkey's emphatic denial of retirement rumors underscores her commitment to the LSU women's basketball program and her desire to continue building on the team's recent success. As one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport, Mulkey's continued presence is crucial for the Tigers as they look to bounce back from their Sweet 16 loss and compete for championships in the years to come.