Kim Mulkey shuts down retirement rumors, calling them 'flat-out lies'
LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey addressed rumors that she retiring following her team's loss to Duke in the Sweet 16.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kim Mulkey is not retiring. She said it three times, including a final time leaning into the microphone on her way out of the postgame press conference after LSU women's basketball lost on a buzzer beater to Duke, 87-85 , in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament Friday night.
"I'm not retiring, do I look that bad? " Mulkey quipped to reporters. "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. " Rumors swirled on social media during the game that Mulkey was calling it quits once her team's season came to a close.
LSU FALLS TO DUKE IN SWEET 16 LSU women's basketball loses on buzzer beater to Duke in Sweet 16 – Final score "You're now explaining to me why my phone was blowing up with that same question," Mulkey said when asked about the online posts. "I just don't get how people can write crap on social media. That has to make y'all feel really bad in journalism.