Kim Mulkey is often difficult to fully understand but her not-so-veiled shot at Caitlin Clark was pretty loud and clear. It had to do with the difference in how LSU plays when compared to Iowa.
The Tigers moved to 16-1 with a 17-point win over the Texas A&M Aggies on Thursday night. All five players in the starting lineup reached double digits scoring. Aneesah Morrow and Angel Reese both dropped 20+.
It continues to be a trend for Mulkey’s team. There is a lot of talent on the LSU women’s basketball roster.
Hailey Van Lith, Reese and Morrow are superstars. Flau’jae Johnson is on the cusp of superstardom and continues to step up when her teammates are having off nights. Mikayla Williams, a five-star recruit, is starting to blossom into a star as well.
They distribute the ball well and everybody gets theirs.
Despite the victory on Thursday, Mulkey was frustrated with the amount of points allowed. Especially after she subbed the bench during the late minutes.
When asked about her team’s performance in postgame, Mulkey was focused on efficiency. She wants her team to be more selective and smart with their shots.
Most importantly, the 61-year-old head coach wants the Tigers to keep distributing the ball and share the wealth. Mulkey spoke to the continuity within her program and turned some heads with her answer.
Nobody’s taking 40 shots a game like you see across the country. We’re not that kind of team.
— Kim Mulkey
Here she is in her own words:
Kim Mulkey did not address Caitlin Clark by name. However, her comments were not particularly subtle.
She took a shot at other programs that largely rely on one single player. Iowa is one of them.
With that said, if Mulkey was talking about Clark, her comments missed the mark.
There is no doubt that the Hawkeyes lean on their future No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick. Clark is a generational talent. They often live and die by her ability to score. She leads the nation in attempts per game.
But it works!
Clark makes 48% of her 22 shots per game and has the most made three-pointers in the country while also averaging 7.7 assists per game. That number ranks seventh nationally.
In addition, Iowa as a team ranks No. 7 in the country in terms of assists. LSU ranks No. 26.
Mulkey and the Tigers beat Clark and the Hawkeyes in the national championship last year. A rematch would be fun. Especially after the pretty clear jab on Thursday night!