BATON ROUGE, La. – In a stunning move that has reverberated across the basketball world, LSU Tigers women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey has rejected a staggering $20.5 million (£16.4 million) offer to coach in the NBA, choosing instead to remain at the helm of LSU’s women’s basketball program. Announced on 1 July 2025, Mulkey’s decision to turn down overtures from the Tennessee Volunteers and Notre Dame, who reportedly collaborated on an unprecedented NBA coaching deal, underscores her unwavering commitment to LSU. “I have no plans beyond being the LSU women’s basketball head coach,” Mulkey declared in a statement shared on X, igniting a wave of pride among Tigers fans and sparking heated discussion across college basketball.
Mulkey, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and four-time NCAA champion, has transformed LSU into a powerhouse since joining in 2021. Her 2023 national championship, LSU’s first in women’s basketball, came with a record-setting 102-85 victory over Iowa, drawing 9.9 million viewers, per lsusports.net. Her 2024-25 season, despite a 3-3 start and losses to SEC rivals, saw the Tigers rebound with an 89-87 thriller over Tennessee, showcasing Mulkey’s ability to rally her team, led by stars Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, per marca.com. Her current 10-year, $36 million contract, signed in 2023, makes her the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach, with a $3.15 million annual salary, outpacing UConn’s Geno Auriemma and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, per sportico.com.
The reported $20.5 million NBA offer, though unconfirmed in specifics, was allegedly a joint effort by Tennessee and Notre Dame to lure Mulkey to a professional role, capitalizing on her Louisiana roots and proven track record. Sources on X suggest the deal included a multi-year NBA assistant coaching position with a pathway to a head coaching role, a bold move given Mulkey’s lack of professional coaching experience. Her rejection of the offer, which would have nearly doubled her current compensation, reflects her deep ties to LSU, where she’s a native of Tickfaw, La., and her desire to continue building a dynasty in Baton Rouge. Mulkey’s history of turning down high-profile opportunities, including staying at Baylor for 21 years before joining LSU, aligns with her stated priority of coaching young women, as noted in her 2023 ESPN interview.
Mulkey’s decision comes amid a transformative period for LSU, with the team navigating the loss of Angel Reese to the WNBA and transfer portal departures like Jersey Wolfenbarger to Tennessee, per themirror.com. Yet, her retention of Flau’jae Johnson, who confirmed her return for her final season, and the addition of transfer portal talent signal a continued push for NCAA contention. Mulkey’s coaching style—marked by intensity and a focus on fundamentals—has drawn both praise and criticism, with controversies like her 2013 comments on player sexuality at Baylor and her 2021 COVID testing remarks, per Wikipedia, adding complexity to her legacy. Despite these, her 700-115 record, nine National Coach of the Year awards, and status as the first coach to win NCAA titles as a player, assistant, and head coach cement her as a titan in the sport.
Fans on X have rallied behind Mulkey’s loyalty, with posts like “Kim Mulkey’s all about LSU—money can’t buy that!” going viral. Critics, however, question whether she missed a chance to break barriers in the NBA, where no woman has served as a head coach. As LSU prepares for a nationally televised showdown with South Carolina on 3 July 2025, Mulkey’s focus remains clear: leading the Tigers to another title. Her rejection of the NBA offer, paired with her history of overcoming adversity—from Baylor’s scandals to LSU’s early-season struggles—underscores her resolve. As one X user put it, “Mulkey’s staying to build a legacy, not chase a paycheck.” For LSU, her commitment is a powerful statement that the best is yet to come.
