LSU's Kim Mulkey Denies Retirement Rumors After Loss to Duke

LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey firmly denied rumors of her retirement following the Tigers' 87-85 loss to Duke in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

The defeat came on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Duke's Ashlyn Jackson, who scored 19 points and sealed the victory after LSU had led 85-84 with seconds remaining. The shot capped a dramatic final sequence where Jackson pump-faked senior guard Flau'jae Johnson before launching from beyond the arc, eliminating the second-seeded Tigers and ending Johnson's collegiate career along with the seasons of three other seniors. Duke, the third seed, advanced to face UCLA in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

Postgame, Mulkey addressed speculation that had spread rapidly on social media, with unverified accounts claiming she planned to step away after the tournament. Her phone had been inundated with questions, including from family members who encountered the false information. "I'm not retiring," Mulkey told reporters. "Do I look that bad? I don't know where that came from. I'm only 63. I'm healthy, with a few stents in my heart. My doctor says I'm good to go."