To say Kim Mulkey has a contentious relationship with the media is like saying Caitlin Clark is “decent” at basketball. Technically true, but it barely scratches the surface of reality.
Mulkey views the media as her adversary, a view she’s shown several times throughout her illustrious coaching career, especially at LSU. The Tigers’ women’s basketball coach had a pretty public feud with The Washington Post and Kent Babb over an alleged “hit piece” that pretty much proved its point upon arrival.
She has also tried to frame coverage of her and her team as “sexist.” And at times, she’s absolutely right — it has been. But that doesn’t mean every criticism falls into that category.
That shouldn’t include her postgame press conference after No. 7 LSU held off No. 13 Oklahoma in a 107-100 this past Thursday. After her players exited the room, Mulkey was immediately asked about the reason for Sa’Myah Smith’s ejection and what she was told.
Things got chippy between Oklahoma-LSU 😳
Both Liz Scott and Sa’Myah Smith were ejected and will miss their next game. pic.twitter.com/T2sRyArwiM
— espnW (@espnW) January 31, 2025
“Well, I know if you don’t ask this next one, Reed [Darcey] will,” she said. “‘Where was Poa?’ ‘Where was Poa?’ They can’t wait to get those clickbaits going. Poa, let’s start with that, so you don’t have to ask me; she’s being disciplined for the breaking of a team rule, K?”
That was all Mulkey was willing to reveal about her senior guard. While Mulkey said that Last-Tear Poa had been disciplined, she didn’t give a reason, nor did she give a timeline for a potential return. Poa did not play in LSU’s 81-67 win over Mississippi State on Sunday afternoon.
And her status for LSU’s Thursday matchup at Mizzou is currently unknown.
What is known, though, is that Mulkey’s media tactics are unlikely to change anytime soon.
And if that means getting ahead of the perceived “clickbaits,” she’s more than happy to oblige.
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.