LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey didn’t hold back as she fired back at the Washington Post for a reported bombshell piece that is set to be released soon.
On Friday, Sports Illustrated reporter Pat Forde broke the news on social media, saying: “Hearing some buzz about a big Washington Post story in the works on LSU women’s hoops coach Kim Mulkey, potentially next week. Wagons being circled, etc.”
LSU Tigers’ Kim Mulkey Addresses Washington Post Report
While the report has yet to be released, Mulkey decided to address it and provide a hint on what it is about. The champion coach emphasized that it’s a “hit piece” that a Washington Post reporter has been working on for the past couple of years. Mulkey shared the reporter even bombarded her with questions about the report and demanded a response by Thursday as they were preparing for the NCAA Tournament. For Mulkey, it was a clear attempt from the reporter to distract her and the team, especially since the timing couldn’t have been any more questionable.
The reporter in question, whom Mulkey didn’t name, was later identified to be Kent Babb, via Associated Press. “I wouldn’t normally discuss media rumors about me, but I felt the need to publicly address what exactly this reporter for the Washington Post has been doing the past several years and the links he has gone to try and put a hit piece together. This reporter has been working on a story about me for two years. After two years of trying to get me to sit with him for an interview, he contacts LSU on Tuesday, as we were getting ready for the first round game of this tournament, with more than a dozen questions, demanding a response by Thursday, right before we’re scheduled to tip off. Are you kidding me?” Mulkey said in her statement to the media on Saturday, via Michael Cauble. Mulkey added, “Former players have told me that The Washington Post has contacted them and offered to let them be anonymous in a story if they’ll say negative things about me. The Washington Post has called former disgruntled players to get negative quotes to include in their story. They’re ignoring the 40-plus years of positive stories that they have heard from people about me.”
The LSU head coach went on to question the integrity of the journalist for coming up with such report without covering the entirety of the story. Not to mention what Mulkey stated as a “ridiculous deadline” that the reporter knew they couldn’t meet considering the situation. While Babb and the Washington Post have yet to comment on Mulkey’s claim, it’s certainly an intriguing situation that puts the publication under the spotlight. If what Mulkey said is true, then their approach to handling the report is worth looking at.
LSU Tigers’ Kim Mulkey Ready To Sue
Kim Mulkey also emphasized that she will take legal action if the Washington Post publishes a false story about here, adding that she has already hired the best defamation firm in the country to handle the case.
“I’ve hired the best defamation law firm in the country and I will sue the Washington Post if they publish a false story about me. Not many people are in a position to hold these kind of journalists accountable, but I am, and I’ll do it. That’s all I’m going to say about this right now. And now I’m going to get back to talking about my basketball team and winning this game tomorrow,” Mulkey said.
It has yet to be seen when the Washington Post article will be released. But sure enough, a lot of eyes are now on it.
As for Mulkey and LSU, they know very well they can’t let it distract them from their task at hand. They are looking to defend their title, with their next challenge in the Round of 32 coming right up as they face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Sunday.
More must-reads: