As the Bruins sought to overcome ghosts of last summer, we knew we were in for a cracker. The Pete Maravich Assembly Center pulsed with nervous energy as LSU, led by the ever-flamboyant Kim Mulkey, went toe-to-toe with No. 1 seed UCLA. By the final buzzer, the Bruins took the win, 72-65, ending LSU’s season. But while the Tigers left empty-handed, Mulkey’s wallet had its own story to tell.
But before we get to the bonus Mulkey pocketed, let’s go back to the stage that set it.
From the get-go, things were more interesting than a daytime show. We all thought that the game hinged on how well UCLA’s powerhouse, Lauren Betts, would perform. But by now, it is clear that the team just never laid out all its cards fully. After picking up two fouls in the first quarter, coach Cori Close wasted no time in getting the job done. “We had to choose the four letters across the front of our jerseys and not care about the back,” Close said.
And well, her team delivered. Gardiner and Jacquez went a combined 4-4 from beyond the arc in the second, outscoring the Tigers 22-12 in the quarter, leading to disappointment for Mulkey, who felt her team just didn’t take advantage of the scenario. “Betts did not beat us. We guarded her as hard as we could guard her. We did not take advantage of Betts being off the court in the second quarter and we allowed perimeter 3s,” she said. In short, missed opportunities cost her team, and she is going to be thinking about this one for a while.
And perhaps, even more so, after hearing what Aneesah Morrow had to say. Playing her last game in LSU’s uniform, Morrow was teary-eyed, saying, “Coach Mulkey challenged me to be a better person, be a better player, and she challenged me to be able to make it in the real world…“She keeps it real with you, she shows you how it is, and I’m honestly grateful for that.”
Her gratitude for Coach Mulkey? It is very well placed. Mulkey has turned LSU into a contender by imparting her tough mindset to the players. Remember how she said just three days ago- “We don’t play to just get to the Sweet 16 at LSU women’s basketball anymore….That’s just, not that we take it for granted, but our goal every year is to just make a run and see if you can get to another Final Four and see if you can upset somebody you’re not supposed to upset. We weren’t talked about at all when we won it two years ago. So let’s go see what we can do.” Yes, that’s what we are talking about.
And nothing could be a better example of this than this recent game. Morrow recorded 15 points and 7 rebounds, fighting through a bloody nose. Flau’jae Johnson was also in rhythm as she recovered from her off-shooting night in the Sweet 16 and put up 28 points.
And if we are to talk about their run in general, then LSU, seeded No.3 in the Spokane Region, marched through the bracket. They crushed No. 14 San Diego State in the first round, overwhelmed No. 6 Florida State 101-71 in the second, and edged out No. 2 NC State 70-63 in the Sweet 16. The best part for the fans remains, as @farrah_yvette noted on X, “Kim Mulkey has elevated the standard at LSU. Postseason runs are expected. Fans are packing the PMAC for games. She’s recruiting elite players“.
So, does she not deserve at least a sweet bonus for her efforts?
A Fitting Paycheck
While the loss is sure to sting her, it does not take away from the fact that Coach Mulkey has one of the highest winning percentages in women’s college basketball, amassing over 750 wins with a winning percentage of .862. Also winning the NCAA Tournament in 2023 to show for these wins and becoming the only coach in women’s college basketball to win the tournament with two different programs. LSU, wanting to keep Mulkey in Baton Rouge for the long-term, struck a 10-year, $32 million deal in 2023 that would see her stay put till June 2033. The deal made her the highest-paid women’s coach at the time, before Dawn Staley’s lucrative USC deal saw her overtake Mulkey at the start of the year.
Kim receives $400,000 per year as part of her salary, but it is the incentives that made her March a little bit sweeter despite the loss. LSU coach Kim Mulkey has finished her season with $160,000 in bonuses. For leading her Tigers to the second round, Mulkey cashed in a $35,000 bonus. $45,000 for winning the second round, and another $50,000 bonus for their Sweet 16 win against N.C. State. Had the Tigers made it to the final four, Kim would’ve been the recipient of another $50,000 cheque.
LSU coach Kim Mulkey finishes season with $160,000 in bonuses. https://t.co/9XeuHXNkv5
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) March 30, 2025
These big bonuses are not just a result of Kim’s success with LSU but also the 3 NCAA Tournaments she’s won with Baylor, gaining her widespread recognition as one of the best coaches in women’s college basketball ever. While she is tied to a long-term contract, if LSU ever does decide to terminate the contract, it would cost them $2 million to do so. Although a clause in the contract, it seems one that is unlikely to be exercised.
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