LSU's Kim Mulkey Reflects on Close Loss to South Carolina in SEC Tournament

Mulkey discusses the Tigers' mental lapses, the challenge of beating an elite program like the Gamecocks, and the overall strength of the SEC women's basketball conference.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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LSU head coach Kim Mulkey spoke with the media after the Tigers' 5-point loss to South Carolina in the SEC Tournament semifinals. Mulkey acknowledged that her team had mental lapses down the stretch that prevented them from pulling off the upset, but praised the Gamecocks' experience and toughness built over Dawn Staley's 18 years as head coach. Mulkey also commented on the overall strength of the SEC conference, calling it the toughest she's ever competed in.

Why it matters

The SEC women's basketball tournament is one of the premier events in college basketball, featuring several of the top teams and players in the country. Mulkey's comments provide insight into the challenges of competing at the highest level and the gap her program still needs to close to reach the elite status of a team like South Carolina.

The details

In the final minute, LSU trailed by 5 points and had two fouls to give, but Mulkey said the team failed to execute the planned trap defense to try and force a turnover. Mulkey pointed to the experience and poise of South Carolina's veteran players as a key difference, noting that it takes time to build that type of program. She also acknowledged the difficulty of maintaining continuity in the current transfer-heavy landscape of college athletics.

  • The SEC Tournament semifinals game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Kim Mulkey

The head coach of the LSU women's basketball team, who is in her 5th season leading the program after a long and successful tenure at Baylor.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, who has led the Gamecocks for the past 18 seasons and built them into an elite program.

Raven Johnson

The senior point guard for South Carolina, who is the team's leader and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

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What they’re saying

“We were supposed to — we had two fouls to give. It was not that decision, I can tell you. We were going to go trap. We didn't do it. There's just a small margin of error that you can have to beat elite teams.”

— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball (ASAP Sports)

“How long has Dawn been at South Carolina? Do you know? 18 years. I was at Baylor 21 years. It takes time to lay that foundation. Man, has she laid it and, man, are they good.”

— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball (ASAP Sports)

“Raven's a senior. Latson is a senior. Is Okot a senior? That's what you're talking about, because they have that experience. They have that toughness. They don't get rattled. That comes with time.”

— Kim Mulkey, Head Coach, LSU Women's Basketball (ASAP Sports)

What’s next

The LSU women's basketball team will await their NCAA Tournament seeding and matchup, which will be announced on Selection Sunday.

The takeaway

Mulkey's comments highlight the challenge of building an elite women's basketball program, even with talented players, and the importance of sustained success and experience that South Carolina has developed under Dawn Staley's long tenure. The strength of the SEC conference also raises the bar for all teams aspiring to compete at the highest level.