BREAKING NEWS: Kim Mulkey Shuts Down Retirement Rumors, Commits to LSU Future

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey has firmly denied swirling retirement rumors, calling them “flat-out lies” and declaring her intention to remain with the Tigers for the foreseeable future.

The speculation erupted on social media Friday afternoon as Mulkey’s second-seeded LSU squad battled Duke in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. A pair of X accounts claiming to be “LSU insiders” posted that the 63-year-old coach would retire at the end of the season, a claim that quickly accumulated over 200,000 impressions .

By the time the final buzzer sounded — a heartbreaking 87-85 Duke victory on a buzzer-beating three-pointer — Mulkey’s phone was “blowing up” with messages from concerned friends, family, and fans .

“I’m Not Retiring — Do I Look That Bad?”

Addressing reporters in a fiery postgame press conference, Mulkey did not mince words.

“I’m not retiring,” she said, three times for emphasis. “Do I look that bad? I don’t know where that came from. I’m only 63, I’m healthy. I have a few stents in my heart but my doctor says I’m good to go” .

Mulkey expressed frustration with the social media ecosystem that allowed such rumors to spread unchecked. She recounted how the misinformation had even reached her own mother, who called in a panic after seeing an unrelated false report about Mulkey’s son.

“My mother called, ‘How’s Kramer doing?’ I said, what are you talking about? ‘Well he had his leg cut off in an accident today.’ Older people especially believe that stuff” .

The coach directly challenged the journalists in the room to combat such fabrications.

“I just don’t get how people can write crap on social media,” Mulkey said. “That has to make y’all feel really bad in journalism. Do some of y’all write that crap on there? That has to make you feel terrible and you get away with it. And people believe it” .

Contract and Future Plans

Mulkey is under contract through the 2032-33 season, a fact that underscores her long-term commitment to LSU . She has compiled a 151-26 record in five seasons in Baton Rouge, leading the Tigers to a national championship in 2023 and three consecutive Elite Eight appearances before this season’s Sweet 16 exit .

Rather than stepping away, Mulkey outlined an aggressive offseason plan. She intends to hire two assistant coaches quickly — following the departure of Gary Redus II to Rutgers — and to utilize the transfer portal to add “two or three more players” .

“I plan to get in the portal and get two or three more players and take a little time off, go see my grandchildren, who actually flew in and got in late and didn’t even see the game,” Mulkey said. “But I’ll get to visit with them tonight in the hotel” .

Why the Rumors May Have Started

Mulkey offered a theory about the origins of the retirement speculation, suggesting it may be a recruiting tactic employed by opposing coaches.

“There are moments where you feel like, why am I doing this?” Mulkey acknowledged. “I think that’s used a lot in recruiting” .

She noted that as coaches age, rivals often float the possibility of imminent retirement to cast doubt in the minds of prospective student-athletes.

“I think as we get older, as coaches, they want to say how much longer is she going to be in the game?” Mulkey said .

A Legacy Still Being Written

Mulkey’s résumé is already among the most decorated in women’s college basketball history. She is the only person in the women’s game to win a national championship as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach . Across 27 seasons as a head coach — 21 at Baylor and five at LSU — she has amassed 783 wins and four national titles .

Her 2025-26 LSU squad finished 29-6, reaching as high as No. 5 in the AP polls before Friday’s narrow defeat . The loss ended LSU’s run of three straight Elite Eight appearances but did nothing to dim Mulkey’s competitive fire.

“I’m going to be in this game unless LSU fires me, OK, or until I can’t put a product on that floor that’s competitive or my health fails me,” Mulkey declared .

The Road Ahead

LSU’s roster will look different next season. Star guard Flau’jae Johnson is graduating and heading to the WNBA, and assistant coaches Gary Redus II and Daphne Mitchell have departed for Rutgers . But Mulkey emphasized that a strong core returns, including First-Team All-SEC guard Mikaylah Williams and Sixth Woman of the Year MiLaysia Fulwiley .

The program is already moving forward. LSU will host its inaugural preseason banquet, “The Premiere,” on October 6, where Mulkey will introduce her sixth Tigers team ahead of the 2026-27 season . The season tips off October 22 against UNT Dallas .

As she left the podium Friday night, Mulkey had one final message for anyone still doubting her intentions.

“Got it? I’m not retiring,” she said. “Make sure you put that out there — not retiring”