Kim Mulkey shows true colors after risking ejection with Flau’jae Johnson reaction

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey was furious after a foul call against Flau’jae Johnson call but she seemingly has no remorse at all for her outburt

LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey has shown no remorse after risking ejection with her reaction to Flau’jae Johnson getting called for a charge in the 95-44 win Monday over the Eastern Kentucky Colonels at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Johnson with her 25 points and five rebounds, together with Aneesah Morrow, and Mikaylah Williams — both of whom scored double-doubles — returned impressive performances for the Tigers in their season-opening match. Mulkey and the roster will be hoping it’s a sign of things to come.

But the great start to the campaign was not the only headline from the game, though, as Mulkey, who is renowned for her antics on the sideline, when she said post-game that an ejection “would’ve been worth it” when protesting a fourth personal foul called on Johnson.

“It would’ve been okay if they ejected me,” Mulkey told reporters, “It would’ve been worth it.”

Aside from that incident, Mulkey waxed lyrical over her players — especially Johnson. “I think it’s obvious that Flau’jae is playing effortlessly. She’s in the greatest shape she’s ever been; it’s coming easy for her. Morrow plays as hard as anybody I’ve coached. Mikaylah started taking it to the rim and played stronger.”

On the strategy Mulkey and her Tigers implemented on game night, and whether that will become an ongoing theme for the season, she said: “I don’t know if pressing will be our identity, but if you’re going to get on the floor, I better be able to press and you better be able to help create some things. So, that’s why we are doing that from start to finish as much as we can.”

ALBANY, NEW YORK – APRIL 01: Head coach Kim Mulkey of the LSU Lady Tigers speaks to her team during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the Elite Eight round of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament held at MVP Arena on April 1, 2024 in Albany, New York. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Smith, who posted one of the two double-doubles, said: “I think we want to be known as the team that will play hard the whole game.

 

Through November, LSU has matches against NW State on November 8, Charleston on November 12, Murray State on November 15, Troy on November 18, Tulane on November 20, and Washington on November 25.

LSU Tigers reached the Elite Eight in March Madness, 2024, with the help of Angel Reese, who went on to help light up the WNBA with career rival Caitlin Clark, for Chicago Sky and Indiana Liberty, respectively.

Mulkey will be hoping one of Johnson, Morrow, and/or Williams can provide the Tigers with the kind of boost Reese provided, as they look to one-up their campaign from 2024 by reaching the Final Four, or the championship game, in 2025.