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NO Breaking: LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey Named AP Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year for the Third Straight Year
In a resounding confirmation of her dynasty-building prowess, LSU Tigers women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey has been named the Associated Press (AP) Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year for an unprecedented third consecutive season. This honor, widely regarded as one of the sport’s highest coaching accolades, cements Mulkey’s status as one of the most dominant figures in women’s college basketball history.
At this point, it is not a surprise—it is a legacy.
Winning the AP Coach of the Year once is a mark of excellence. Winning it three times in a row? That enters the realm of legend. With this third straight win, Mulkey becomes the first coach in NCAA women’s basketball history to earn the honor in three consecutive seasons, surpassing a record that many believed would never be touched.
The vote wasn’t close. Mulkey received 36 of the 60 votes, with the rest scattered among several other respected names in the sport. The overwhelming support from sportswriters and broadcasters around the nation speaks volumes about how transformative her work has been at LSU.
“She’s not just winning games; she’s changing the culture, raising expectations, and redefining what success looks like in Baton Rouge,” said ESPN analyst and former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo. “What she’s done in three years at LSU is something we rarely see in coaching—men’s or women’s.”
Kim Mulkey arrived at LSU in 2021 after building a basketball juggernaut at Baylor, where she led the Bears to three national championships and amassed over 600 career wins. Her move to LSU was met with curiosity and skepticism. Could she replicate her success in a different environment? Could she attract elite recruits? Could she win big in the ultra-competitive SEC?
The answer to all those questions has been a resounding yes.
In her first year, she led LSU to a 26–6 record, finishing second in the SEC and earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. By Year 2, she had captured the 2023 NCAA national title, LSU’s first-ever in women’s basketball. Now, in her third season, Mulkey has turned what was once a rebuilding program into a perennial powerhouse.
This year’s Coach of the Year recognition follows yet another remarkable season for Mulkey and her Tigers. LSU finished the 2024–25 regular season with a 31–3 record, dominated the SEC, and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. They did so with a mixture of seasoned veterans and dynamic young talent, all molded under Mulkey’s intense, hands-on leadership style.
LSU led the nation in points per game (89.2), ranked top five in rebounding and steals, and were a defensive nightmare for opponents. The team’s ability to play fast-paced offense while still locking down defensively is a testament to Mulkey’s unique ability to adapt her schemes to her personnel.
“It’s rare to see a coach evolve with the times,” said longtime analyst Debbie Antonelli. “Mulkey’s teams used to grind it out at Baylor. At LSU, she’s unleashed her players and empowered them to play with freedom and fire.”
It’s not just game-day coaching where Mulkey excels. Her work on the recruiting trail has completely altered the trajectory of LSU’s program. She landed No. 1 recruit Mikaylah Williams in 2023, and in 2024, she followed that up by signing the top-ranked class in the nation, headlined by five-star standouts Sierra Johnson and Ava Jenkins.
But Mulkey’s brilliance lies in more than just signing elite talent. She knows how to develop players. Under her guidance, Flau’jae Johnson went from an under-the-radar freshman to one of the best two-way guards in the country. Transfer standout Hailey Van Lith, who joined LSU from Louisville, credits Mulkey with helping her rediscover joy in the game.
“I needed someone who would challenge me, believe in me, and hold me accountable,” Van Lith said. “Coach Mulkey did all of that and more.”
Kim Mulkey is as fiery as she is fashionable. Known for her flamboyant sideline outfits and expressive reactions, Mulkey is a media magnet. But behind the glitter and headlines lies a deeply passionate leader who loves her players like family.
“She’s hard on us because she cares,” said Angel Reese, LSU’s former star forward and 2023 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player. “She pushes you to be your best every single day. And when you achieve something, she’s the first one cheering.”
Mulkey’s personal touch—writing handwritten notes, visiting families, and celebrating player milestones—has earned her loyalty across generations of athletes. Whether it’s the college kids she’s coaching today or the WNBA stars she once mentored, nearly all of them call her a second mother.
The 2024–25 season wasn’t without its challenges. LSU endured a mid-season stretch in which three players, including a key starter, missed time due to injuries. Critics questioned whether Mulkey’s team had enough depth and composure to survive the gauntlet of the SEC.
But she never blinked.
Instead, Mulkey restructured the rotation, empowered her bench, and preached a “next woman up” mentality. The result? LSU rattled off 14 straight wins and reclaimed the top spot in the conference standings.
“She has an unmatched ability to galvanize a locker room,” said SEC Network’s Andraya Carter. “When the pressure is at its highest, Mulkey is at her best.”
With her third straight AP Coach of the Year award, Kim Mulkey has entered uncharted territory. She now holds four AP Coach of the Year honors (three at LSU, one at Baylor) and is one of only three coaches in women’s basketball history to win national championships at multiple programs.
In just three seasons at LSU, Mulkey has:
- Delivered the school’s first national championship
- Recruited back-to-back top-three recruiting classes
- Won 90+ games
- Transformed LSU into a television ratings juggernaut
- Created a massive economic impact for Baton Rouge through increased ticket sales, merchandise, and national attention
Perhaps most impressively, she has become a symbol of empowerment for women in coaching—leading with boldness, authenticity, and unapologetic southern flair.
If Mulkey has proven anything, it’s that she isn’t done yet.
With another top-tier recruiting class arriving in 2025–26, a strong returning core, and a fanbase that believes she walks on water, expectations remain sky-high. LSU is now the program every other team measures themselves against—and Mulkey wouldn’t have it any other way.
When asked about winning the award for the third straight time, Mulkey was characteristically direct: “It’s not about me. It’s about this team, this staff, and this university. I love what I do, and I’m proud of what we’re building at LSU. But we’re not finished. We’re just getting started.”
The announcement of Mulkey’s latest honor sent ripples through the college basketball world. Social media lit up with praise, congratulations, and a healthy dose of LSU envy.
“Three straight? That’s GOAT status,” tweeted WNBA star Diana Taurasi.
“Kim Mulkey continues to raise the bar,” added UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, her longtime coaching rival. “What she’s done at LSU is incredible, and the game is better because of her.”
Even LSU football coach Brian Kelly chimed in, saying: “Kim’s success inspires all of us on campus. She’s setting the gold standard.
In a sport undergoing major transformations—NIL deals, the transfer portal, and growing media coverage—Kim Mulkey is the torchbearer for what modern success can look like. She embraces tradition while adapting to the present, and in doing so, she’s not just coaching a team—she’s leading a movement.
Young female athletes see her and believe that anything is possible. Aspiring coaches watch her and learn how to lead with passion and toughness. And LSU fans? They’re just enjoying the ride, knowing full well that with Mulkey at the helm, greatness is never far away.
To witness Kim Mulkey’s coaching journey is to witness history in motion. From a fiery point guard at Louisiana Tech to a Hall of Fame coach rewriting record books in her home state, Mulkey has never backed down from a challenge. Now, with three straight AP Coach of the Year awards, she has carved her name even deeper into the annals of basketball greatness.
Whether you love her, fear her, or wish she were coaching your team, one thing is clear: Kim Mulkey is a force—and she’s not going anywhere.
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