It seems like LSU coach Kim Mulkey has expressed frustration and threatened legal action against The Washington Post, accusing them of pursuing a “hit piece” about her.
Mulkey specifically mentioned an award-winning Post reporter, likely Kent Babb, stating that he had been trying to interview her for two years. She criticized the timing of the reporter’s inquiries, alleging that he contacted LSU with a list of questions shortly before the team’s scheduled game in the women’s NCAA Tournament, demanding a response by Thursday.
This situation appears to have escalated tensions between Mulkey and the newspaper.
Mulkey asserted that the deadline set by the reporter was unreasonable and impossible for LSU and herself to meet. She suggested that the intention behind this deadline was to prevent her from commenting and to distract the team from the tournament. She expressed confidence that these tactics would not succeed.
Babb, confirmed by The Associated Press, acknowledged that he is currently working on a profile piece about Mulkey but declined to provide further details. Similarly, The Washington Post declined to comment on the matter.
Babb boasts a 14-year tenure with The Washington Post, during which his features have garnered recognition, being named best in the nation by The Associated Press Sports Editors on three occasions.
Additionally, he is an accomplished author, having penned two books: “Across the River: Life, Death, and Football in an American City” and “Not A Game: The Incredible Rise and Unthinkable Fall of Allen Iverson.”
Mulkey, now in her third season at LSU, secured a substantial contract extension—a 10-year, $36 million deal—following her fourth national championship win as a coach last season. Her successful coaching career includes three national titles with Baylor, two championships as a player at Louisiana Tech, and a gold medal as part of Team USA at the 1984 Olympic Games.
Mulkey stated that she informed Babb two years ago that she wouldn’t participate in an interview with him due to her dissatisfaction with what she perceived as a negative article he had written about Brian Kelly, the current LSU and former Notre Dame football coach.
Expressing her frustration, Mulkey asserted that she won’t allow The Washington Post to disparage LSU, her team of young women, or herself without a fight. She emphasized her readiness to take legal action, stating that she has enlisted the services of a top defamation law firm in the country and is prepared to sue The Washington Post if they publish a false story about her.
Mulkey accused Babb of attempting to deceive her former assistant coaches into speaking with him by implying that she had agreed to an interview. She remarked that upon learning of her refusal to engage with the reporter, her former coaches were dismayed and felt misled.
Mulkey also mentioned that former players have informed her that The Washington Post reached out to them, offering anonymity in exchange for negative comments about her.
She criticized the newspaper for focusing solely on negative narratives, disregarding the numerous positive stories spanning over four decades. Mulkey suggested that journalists prioritizing sensationalism over truth-seeking contribute to the erosion of trust in the media. She labeled such tactics as “sleazy” and “hatchet jobs,” asserting that they perpetuate public skepticism towards journalists and the media.
