Baton Rouge, Louisiana – The PMAC may not be sold out for a summer pickup game, but the energy in Baton Rouge feels like a national championship just dropped into the lap of LSU fans. In what many are calling the greatest homecoming in LSU women’s basketball history, Seimone Augustus—the face of the LSU Tigers’ golden era and a global icon in women’s basketball—has returned to her alma mater as a full-time member of the coaching staff. The reaction? Unfiltered joy. Goosebumps. Tears. And fireworks, both metaphorically and literally.
This isn’t just a feel-good story. It’s a seismic shift for the LSU program.
A Full-Circle Moment
Seimone Augustus’s name is etched into every wall of LSU women’s basketball history. The Baton Rouge native dazzled from 2002 to 2006, becoming a two-time Wooden Award winner, three-time All-American, and the unquestioned heartbeat of the Tigers’ back-to-back-to-back Final Four runs. Her jersey—No. 33—is already retired in the rafters. But now, she’s walking back onto the hardwood, clipboard in hand, voice in huddles, and fire in her eyes.
The announcement dropped on social media early Wednesday morning. In a video posted by LSU Athletics, Augustus stood midcourt in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, silently soaking in the moment before turning to the camera:
“I’ve come home. It’s time to finish what we started. Let’s make history—again.”
The Coaching Role
LSU Head Coach Kim Mulkey—never one to shy away from bold moves—revealed in a packed press conference that Augustus will join the program as a full-time assistant coach, effective immediately. According to Mulkey, Augustus will focus on player development, offensive strategy, and mentorship—three areas where her influence could be transformative.
“We just got one of the greatest players in the history of the game—not just LSU, not just college, the entire game,” Mulkey said. “Seimone knows what it takes to win at the highest level, and she knows what LSU means. There’s no better person to help lead this next generation.”
Setting Baton Rouge Ablaze
The moment the news broke, Tiger Nation erupted. Within an hour, Augustus was trending nationwide on X (formerly Twitter), and LSU’s team store saw a spike in jersey sales—specifically retro No. 33s. Fans flooded the PMAC just to get a glimpse of the video announcement playing on loop. Baton Rouge radio shows went into overdrive. Social media posts from former teammates, current players, and WNBA stars alike poured in.
Angel Reese, the former LSU national champion now with the Chicago Sky, called the move “iconic.”
“She’s the blueprint for every girl who’s ever balled in Baton Rouge. Welcome back, Queen.”
Legacy Rewritten in Real Time
To understand how meaningful this return is, you have to understand who Seimone Augustus is.
- The High School Phenom: At Capitol High in Baton Rouge, Augustus averaged nearly 25 points per game and was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Her commitment to LSU sparked a cultural revolution for women’s hoops in Louisiana.
- College Icon: From 2002–2006, she led the Tigers to unprecedented heights: three straight Final Four appearances and an overall 121–19 record. She averaged 19.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game across her career.
- WNBA Royalty: As the No. 1 pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, Augustus became the face of the Minnesota Lynx franchise. She led them to four championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), earned Finals MVP honors in 2011, and was an 8-time All-Star.
- Olympic Gold Medalist: She helped Team USA capture three gold medals (2008, 2012, 2016).
- Trailblazer Beyond Basketball: Augustus has been an outspoken advocate for social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and gender equality in sports.
Why This Move Changes Everything
From a recruiting standpoint, this hire is a game-changer.
Bringing in a legend who has walked the exact path that every LSU recruit dreams about sends a strong message: We are building a dynasty, and the legends are leading the charge. With Mulkey’s championship pedigree and Augustus’s iconic status, the Tigers are now the most appealing program in the country for elite recruits who want to learn from the best—and become the best.
“You want to talk about the best backcourt mentor for a young guard? Look no further than Seimone Augustus,” said ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo. “LSU just raised the ceiling again.”
Already Making an Impact
Even before her first official practice, Augustus was spotted working out with several LSU players during voluntary sessions this week. Freshman phenom Zyaire Green, a top-10 national recruit, called the experience “surreal.”
“I grew up watching YouTube highlights of her and now she’s fixing my jumper. It doesn’t feel real,” Green said.
Sophomore sharpshooter Hailey Van Lith, who returned to LSU for one more season, echoed the sentiment:
“She’s not just teaching the game—she’s showing us how to live it. There’s something powerful about hearing her voice in the gym.”
Kim Mulkey’s Masterstroke
Say what you want about Coach Mulkey, but one thing is indisputable: she knows how to win. In just a few seasons, she’s already delivered LSU’s first-ever women’s basketball national championship and elevated the program’s profile to stratospheric levels. Now, by bringing Augustus into the fold, she’s fortifying her coaching tree with roots planted deep in Louisiana soil.
“I believe in giving legends their flowers while they can still smell them,” Mulkey said. “Seimone isn’t just a part of our history. She’s our future.”
A Community Celebration
The city of Baton Rouge is planning a Welcome Home Parade for Augustus later this month, expected to wind through the LSU campus and end at the PMAC. Mayor Sharon Weston Broome declared July 10th as “Seimone Augustus Day” in East Baton Rouge Parish, calling her return “a full-circle celebration of excellence, purpose, and legacy.”
What’s Next for LSU Women’s Basketball?
With Augustus on the sidelines, expectations will only grow.
LSU enters the 2025–26 season ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” Top 25, behind only Dawn Staley’s South Carolina juggernaut. But with Van Lith’s return, a stacked recruiting class, and Augustus whispering wisdom from the bench, many believe the Tigers have the edge to bring another national title to Baton Rouge.
Don’t be surprised if Augustus’s presence alone starts changing the way LSU plays. Known for her silky mid-range jumper, fearless drives, and icy composure in crunch time, she could help refine LSU’s offense into a more poised, NBA-style attack.
“I’m not here to relive the past,” Augustus said. “I’m here to build the future. Let’s get to work.”
The Ultimate Homecoming
It’s rare that the prodigal daughter returns not only to cheers but to a program already on the rise. Rarer still is the moment when history, legacy, and future all converge in a single name: Seimone Augustus.
She gave LSU everything she had as a player. Now, she’s ready to give even more as a coach.
And Baton Rouge? It’s more than ready to receive her.
Final Thoughts
For a program already blessed with momentum, this feels like divine alignment. Seimone Augustus didn’t need to come back. She could’ve chosen to coach at the pro level. She could’ve stayed in retirement, enjoyed her legacy, and watched from afar.
But she chose home. She chose LSU. She chose the next generation.
And in doing so, she just turned the heat up on every team in the SEC.
Welcome back, legend. Baton Rouge is on fire—and it’s only just begun.
