Kim Mulkey skipped out on her postgame press conference after the ouster of LSU athletic director Scott Woodward. The news made its way to the bench during an exhibition game on Thursday.
She was “heartbroken.”
For one of the most legendary coaches in women’s college basketball to take this kind of stand sends a very loud message. Mulkey does not like what is happening in Baton Rouge.
Jeff Landry got Scott Woodward fired.
The governor of Louisiana recently put himself at the center of LSU’s search for a head football coach. Not only did he encourage the dismissal of Brian Kelly, Landry made it abundantly clear that Woodward would not have a role in the hiring of his replacement. He went so far as to say that he would let president Donald Trump pick the next football coach in Baton Rouge before the AD.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry just slammed LSU athletic director Scott Woodward on Brian Kelly fiasco.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) October 29, 2025
Says he will not hire next coach
“No, I can tell you right now Scott Woodward is not selecting the next head coach. I’d let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it…” pic.twitter.com/4sXNglsuJE
A board of supervisors will be in charge of the selection process.
"I will not be picking the new coach and that is not my job..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 30, 2025
The only reason that I'm really involved is because this Brian Kelly contract leaves the taxpayers of this state on the bill..
I care about the taxpayers of our state"@JeffLandry #PMSLive https://t.co/x211efay5k pic.twitter.com/p0UzzOpiDQ
Landry, who took office in 2024, attached the buyouts of both Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher to Woodward and revoked his privilege. He also questions why Jimmy Sexton is allowed to represent the vast majority of major players within the sport.
"There's a number of bad contracts that seem to have followed Scott Woodward..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 30, 2025
It's time for the NCAA to start putting some guardrails around College Football" ~ @JeffLandry #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/dFnFh6aV7T
It later came out that Landry called for LSU to fire Woodward during a heated meeting over the weekend. That ultimately led the two parties to “part ways” on Thursday evening.
Why, what happened?!
LSU does not have a full-time president, athletic director or head football coach. Meanwhile, the governor of Louisiana is putting himself right in the middle of the entire hiring process.
Surely that will go well…
Kim Mulkey doesn’t think so.
Woodward hired Mulkey to coach the women’s college basketball team at LSU in 2021. She led the Bayou Bengals to two Elite Eights and a national title in four years. They are currently ranked No. 5.
Like her or not, it was a great hire.
LSU stomped NAIA opponent Langston University during an exhibition game on Thursday night by a final score of 121-41. The news of Woodward’s departure made its way down the bench to Mulkey during the scrimmage.
She chose not to attend the postgame press conference in protest. Assistant Bob Starkey took her place.
Kim Mulkey @KimMulkey didn't attend her postgame press conference due to #LSU parting ways with athletics director Scott Woodward. The news dropped in the middle of the Tigers exhibition game with Langston.
— Mike Scarborough (@ScarboroughMike) October 31, 2025
Bob Starkey @CoachBobStarkey explained why… pic.twitter.com/VsfBSoENU4
He had nothing but great things to say about Scott Woodward.
. @LSUwbkb Bob Starkey, filling in for head coach Kim Mulkey during postgame press conference following #LSU 121-41 exhibition win over Langston, says ouster of AD Scott Woodward made it's way to bench during the action.
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) October 31, 2025
"We and me personally are a lot better for him." pic.twitter.com/GZFpD4JlmB
Jeff Landry got his way. But at what cost?
Other coaches within the university are pushing back on his decision. LSU will struggle to hire any of Sexton’s clients as the next head football coach. One of the top destination jobs in college sports has very quickly become toxic. It’s a mess.