LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and the Tigers were the subject of a Los Angeles Times column that described the players as “villains” and “dirty debutants.”
Mr. Mulkey, who had been critical of the Washington Post in the days leading up to the profile, shredded the Los Angeles Times over the column.
She derided it as “sexist,” “terrible” and “wrong.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey reacts during the second quarter of the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 game against UCLA on March 30, 2024 in Albany, New York. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
“You can criticize the coach all you want,” she told reporters via ESPN. “That’s our job. You can come at us and say you’re the worst coach in America. I hate you, I hate all of you. That’s what we expect. It comes with the territory.”
“But the one thing I’m not going to let you guys do is I’m not going to let you attack young people. And there were some things in this comment that I, as a woman, should be offended by. It was very sexist. Today’s match was good versus evil. Evil? Did you call us dirty debutantes? Are you kidding me?
“We’re not going to have kids talking about 18- to 21-year-olds in that tone.”
LSU star Angel Reese was among the players who defended Mulkey in an LA Times article. She said she and her teammates are “good villains” who are helping the women’s basketball world.
Kaitlin Clark’s strong performance moves Iowa into the Elite 8, setting up rematch with defending champion LSU
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey speaks to reporters during a press conference during the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Albany, New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altafer)
“That’s what we’re concerned about,” Reese said. “Just having teammates that are rooting for you, having teammates and coaches, that means we can always support each other. I don’t care what outsiders think. Locker room I know what’s going on.”
Mulkey added that she does not intend to allow “sexism” to continue.
“But I can’t sit here as a mother and a grandmother and a youth leader and let someone say something like that, because, folks, it’s wrong. I don’t want to see that.” I know sexism when I read about it. That was terrible.'”
The LA Times later edited the article to remove some words, including “dirty debut.” The paper said it did not meet “editorial standards.”
The criticism of the LA Times column came as the Washington Post published an article about Mulkey detailing his rift with players and his family during his career.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey hugs forward Angel Reese late in the second half of a second-round game against Middle Tennessee in the women’s NCAA Tournament on March 24, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I can tell you I haven’t read it. I don’t know if I will. I’ll leave that to my lawyers,” she said of the Post profile.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcast and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
