When Kim Mulkey took over as the head coach of LSU women's basketball, the expectations were about as high as possible.
But even then, there's no way they included a run to the NCAA Tournament title game in Year 2. They also probably didn't include the expectation that the head coach would become must-see TV for her fashion almost as much with her team's stunning play on the floor.
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FIRST ROUND: LSU 73, Hawaii 50
Then the tournament started, and she donned a St. Patrick's Day sweater that read "Kiss Me, I'm a Queen" as her team dominated Hawaii 73-50 in the opening round.
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ROUND OF 32: LSU 66, Michigan 42
Next came a full polka dot suit as LSU routed Michigan 66-42 to advance to the Sweet 16.
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SWEET 16: LSU 66, Utah 63
That's when things really got interesting. The Tigers head coach arrived for a showdown with 2 seed Utah wearing a blazer that featured pink feathers from shoulder to wrist. It was LSU's closest call yet, but they outlasted Utah 66-63.
Asked after the game, Mulkey had an all-time response:
"Look, we're from Louisiana. We like sparkles, we like diamonds, we like Mardi Gras, we like to eat and we like to party," the coach said. "So I'm filling the bill for my home state."
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ELITE EIGHT: LSU 54, Miami 42
Things were dialed back a bit as her team faced off with Miami in the Elite Eight. Mulkey took to the sidelines in a shimmering blazer and LSU took down the Hurricanes 54-42.
Mulkey went into the frills again as her team matched up with 1 seed Virginia Tech, as she arrived in a bright pink blouse adorned with flowers down the arms. The Tigers went into the 4th quarter trailing by nine, but never blinked en route to a 79-72 victory and the first trip to an NCAA Tournament title game in program history.
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FINAL FOUR: LSU 79, Virginia Tech 72
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CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: 3 LSU vs 2 Iowa (2:30 p.m., ESPN)
And when the title game arrived against 2 seed Iowa? She didn't disappoint, arriving in a glitzy tiger print jacket and pants as she leads her team to what could be the first national title in LSU's storied basketball history.
The LSU head coach has been asked about her outfits multiple times throughout the tournament, and she's made clear they aren't her selections. Many are delivered to her by LSU graduates who now work as designers, and she's gone with a selection of those throughout the tournament. But she does want to make a few things clear:
1. This really isn't new for her. She always dresses up for these types of games.
2. Don't let anything, even the sparkles, distract you from what her team is accomplishing on the floor.
“I’ve kinda come out of my shell a little bit and done a little bit more of that," Mulkey told WWL. "But here’s what I tell people: Don’t just look at what I’m wearing, look at the product on the court. … You better talk in the same breath about how damn good those players are on that floor and what I’ve done throughout my career. If you talk about both hand-in-hand, I’m good with it. But don’t just talk about what I wear, I’ve been doing that for years.”
Mulkey's LSU women face off with Iowa at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday (ESPN).
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