LSU Postgame Press Conference (2026 Women's Sweet 16)

[0:00] Please make sure your cell phones are on silent. [0:04] We're going to ask Coach Mulkey for some comments at the start. [0:09] After her comments, we would ask you please direct all questions to the two student athletes, [0:18] Michaela Williams and Malasia Fulwiley, so that we can get back to the locker room first, [0:25] and then we'll make Coach Mulkey available immediately following those questions. [0:30] Thank you very much. [0:32] One other quick note is that when they leave the locker room, [0:52] they've just left the locker room and are heading here right now, [0:55] their locker room will be open for 30 minutes. [0:59] So following the interviews here, if you want to get some additional comments [1:04] from some of the players that aren't on the dais, [1:07] they'll be available for basically the next 30 minutes. [1:48] Thank you for taking the time to be with us. [1:50] Coach Mulkey, if you could please give us your synopsis. [1:53] Nope. [1:54] Just questions. [1:54] All righty. [1:56] There we have it. [1:57] We're going to start with questions for the student athletes, please. [2:00] Right here. [2:01] We've got our first question. [2:04] Okay. [2:05] That's okay. [2:06] Question for student athletes up front. [2:12] And again, please identify by name and media outlet. [2:15] Marcus D. Smith, USA Today Sports, Malaysia. [2:18] You came off the bench today. [2:20] You scored a career-high 28 points. [2:21] I know it comes in a loss, so you'd rather have the win. [2:25] But just kind of what took it to you to kind of help get the team going [2:30] after kind of the lull in the start and kind of get to anywhere you want on the basket, [2:35] especially on the floor, especially getting to the cup? [2:37] Yeah, definitely. [2:38] I think my main focus is just coming in and just trying to do anything to help my team win [2:42] or stay in the game. [2:44] And I think I was finding the right spots, and it kind of helped me. [2:48] But, yeah. [2:52] Michael Cobble, WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge. [2:54] Mikayla, just the emotions of that game to fight back. [2:57] I think you guys closed on a 12-1 run. [3:00] It looked like you were going to lock it up there [3:01] and then just see that ball going around the rim as often as it did. [3:03] Just kind of take me through that final minute of play there in your mind. [3:08] The final minute of the play, you're talking about like the buzzer beater? [3:18] Oh, yeah. [3:21] I mean, at that point in time, we couldn't afford to go back and forth with them. [3:26] We couldn't get a stop at that point in time. [3:29] We didn't get those key rebounds that we needed, [3:31] and that kind of put us in that situation that we were in in the first place. [3:35] So, I guess we got to go back to the drawing board and figure some things out. [3:42] Mark Haynes, Sacramento Observer. [3:44] Mark Haynes, Sacramento Observer. [3:45] Just immediately after, you know, the game, [3:49] ended, the shot went down. [3:51] What was kind of your silly question, but emotions at that moment? [3:59] Frustration. [4:01] As a competitor, obviously nobody wants to lose, especially like that. [4:06] And then knowing that there was a lot of things that was us [4:09] that had us in that position. [4:12] And then frustration for myself knowing that I'm back here again in my junior year, [4:17] not making it to the final four. [4:19] You just mentioned too early on, McKaylee, about not getting key rebounds. [4:30] They did. [4:30] The Duke Blue Devils did pull down 21 offensive rebounds. [4:34] What was going on with that, and how they were able to focus on that end? [4:40] They just grabbed it at the important times. [4:48] We couldn't get it when it mattered. [4:49] So, yeah. [4:53] Question in the back corner. [4:55] Ramsey Barker, Sactown Sports 1140, for both McKaylee and Malaysia. [5:00] What were you two ladies seeing with, it seemed like there was an ease of getting [5:05] into the paint and getting almost anything you wanted at the rim tonight. [5:08] What? [5:09] What was that? [5:09] What was bringing that success, and what were you two ladies seeing [5:11] that was making it successful for you to get the basket tonight? [5:15] For me, just seeing open lanes. [5:20] Yeah, same. [5:23] Question in the back. [5:24] For both of you, but we can start with McKaylee, if you will. [5:27] Just how will you remember this year? [5:28] And then, obviously, both of you guys will be back next season. [5:31] What do you want to take from this pushing into next season? [5:35] The same thing I've said for two years, remember this feeling, get better, [5:44] and hopefully make it back here next year and get over this hump. [5:47] Probably just how hard we fought. [5:53] But not only like in the games, like in practice every day. [5:55] I feel like everyone showed up, and that wasn't easy. [5:58] And I think next year will be different, and I'm excited to see what next year brings. [6:04] Any other questions for the students? [6:08] One more. [6:09] One final one here. [6:12] Both of you, again, we can start with Leigh this time. [6:14] Just what have you said to Flage? [6:16] Obviously, this is going to be, you know, the end of her LSU season. [6:19] And what has it been like playing with her? [6:22] Oh, I haven't had, I haven't got to talk to her yet, but it was amazing playing with her. [6:26] She's a great player. [6:27] She's a great person, and she had an amazing four years. [6:30] Yeah. [6:30] Four years here. [6:30] So, to see it end like this, I mean, it's not the way I'm pretty sure she wanted it to go, [6:34] but she should be proud of what she accomplished. [6:37] Yeah. [6:41] To piggyback off what Leigh said, obviously, that's not how she wanted to end her senior year [6:47] and her career here at LSU. [6:48] But the conversation we had was for her to remember this feeling [6:52] and carry it over to the next level. [6:55] Go to the next level and be that same person, that same hard worker that she is and hope. [7:04] Thank you both for your time. [7:06] We will open it up. [7:19] Questions for Coach? [7:21] Start right here, and then we'll work our way over here. [7:27] Hey, Coach. [7:27] Sabrina Merchant, The Athletic. [7:29] To follow up on that, on your left, hi. [7:32] I'm wondering what you think Flage has meant to this program over the last four years [7:36] and just what it feels like to know that this is the last time you're going to be coaching her. [7:40] I think I've expressed it numerous times what Flage has meant to our program. [7:48] So, I would be repeating all the things I've said before. [7:52] She was the first McDonald's we signed. [7:54] We signed at LSU before we ever won a championship. [7:58] She got a championship her freshman year. [8:00] She was freshman of the year in the SEC. [8:05] She has two careers that she's doing every day of her life. [8:08] Wakes up at 5 o'clock. [8:11] She spent four years at the same institution. [8:14] The list goes on. [8:16] And so, much appreciation to her for being who she is. [8:24] She has a joyous spirit about her. [8:26] And, you know, I think that's what we're going to do. [8:27] And, you know, I think that's what we're going to do. [8:27] She helped us win many ballgames. [8:30] And she also won a championship. [8:35] Question in the center. [8:37] Troy Allen with the Reveille. [8:38] Coach, Malaysia for a while you had 18 in the first half and finished with 28. [8:42] What did you see from her tonight? [8:43] What she does, she just has spectacular moves and quickness. [8:50] And she did the same thing against Duke last time. [8:55] She's just hard to guard. [8:56] And she gave us a spark when we just started. [9:02] We started real lethargic for whatever reason. [9:06] We didn't play with a sense of urgency or energy until it was about five minutes to go in the game. [9:14] And we were down eight. [9:15] And then we turned it up. [9:16] And so, I asked myself as a coach, why did we not start like that? [9:22] And so, you just kind of think as a coach what made us like that. [9:29] I would say certain things the defense and the opponent does. [9:34] But your energy. [9:35] And your, you know, just excitement is not something that the other team keeps you from doing. [9:44] We got back in the game doing what we normally do. [9:50] Right here. [9:51] And then we'll come down to the front. [9:53] Reed Darcy. [9:54] Reed Darcy, the advocate coach. [9:56] One went through your head. [9:57] What were you feeling when that shot dropped through the net right at the end there? [10:02] I've been doing this a long time. [10:04] I lost a national championship with seven-tenths of a second to go. [10:08] So, I've been in those situations before. [10:11] And I feel the same. [10:12] It's, it's heartbreaking for your team. [10:15] It's heartbreaking for your players and fans. [10:19] And, but I've been around a long time. [10:22] I've seen endings like that. [10:23] I've been a part of those endings. [10:26] Takes a while to get over it. [10:29] But you go in the locker room and you hug their necks. [10:34] And you tell them what a wonderful year we had. [10:37] And you put yourself in a position to win the game. [10:42] You put yourself in a position to win the game. [10:44] And a crazy shot like that beats you. [10:48] But rebounding and second chance points really beat you. [10:54] I think 19 points they got off second chance. [10:58] We couldn't grab a rebound. [10:59] And you look at the stats and we have the same number of rebounds. [11:02] But that's misleading. [11:04] We just couldn't get three stops in a row. [11:07] We couldn't rebound the ball so that we could take off in transition. [11:11] And that was just, it was kind of like we were moving in mud. [11:17] But we did, we did fight to the bitter end. [11:22] And put ourselves still in a position to win. [11:27] Question up front. [11:29] Hey, Coach, Doug Feinberg, the AP. [11:30] On that last play, were you expecting them to shoot that three? [11:33] I don't know what was going through your mind defensively. [11:35] What was the plan? [11:36] I thought they were going to get it to the big girl in the lob or something. [11:40] You know? [11:41] But, no, I have to go back and look at it. [11:45] I think Flage overran it. [11:48] And took one little, I think she, the girl, Jackson may or may not have given her a fake or what. [11:54] I don't know. [11:56] And she just got a good look at it. [11:58] And you can't do that. [11:59] You've got to make sure they make a shot over your extended hands right there. [12:05] I wouldn't say it was like some spectacular play drawn up where we got burned. [12:11] Just, I think, overran it. [12:14] But, again, I'd have to look at it again. [12:16] But it seems like that's what I remember. [12:18] And Flage came back. [12:20] And she, I don't know if she gave her a little jab or something. [12:24] And just got a look at it. [12:27] Back in the court. [12:28] Ramsey Barker, Sactown Sports 1140. [12:30] I know you said it was misleading with the rebounds. [12:32] Even though they were going to get it. [12:33] Total turnovers were tied. [12:36] Points off of turnovers were tied. [12:38] Shooting percentages were, or shots made were very similar. [12:42] Outside of, as you said, the second chance points and the rebounds, [12:46] where do you see some of the slight differences in the game that led to the result? [12:51] Oh, I thought it was the way we started the game. [12:56] We couldn't just grab. [12:58] We couldn't get three defensive stops in a row. [13:01] We call that kill. [13:02] We had one kill all night. [13:05] And they were able to get some second chance points, even to the end. [13:15] You know, there was that long rebound. [13:16] We get that, we're going to win the ball game. [13:18] And we couldn't get that one. [13:21] Just little things like that, that we just couldn't get two possessions ahead. [13:29] We were always catching up. [13:32] Question in the back, then we'll come to the front. [13:34] Kim, just yesterday you said that this team was a pleasure to coach. [13:37] You've got an incredible freshman class and a couple of leaders. [13:40] Sitting up there with you tonight. [13:41] I guess, what are you looking at in this team next season? [13:44] Well, you're looking at a team that is very talented. [13:49] A team that got freshmen, got lots of minutes this year. [13:54] And you add a few to the mix. [13:59] And hope that we're back in this position again. [14:03] That's what I hope. [14:07] Question in the front, right here. [14:09] Michael Volpe, ESPN.com. [14:11] Please forgive me for having to ask you this. [14:13] I know you don't pay a lot of attention to social media. [14:15] During this game, somebody online claiming to be an LSU insider said you were retiring when this season was ending. [14:22] Do you have any comment on that? [14:25] You are now explaining to me why my phone was blowing up with that same question. [14:31] And I said to this person, I'm not retiring. [14:35] Do I look that bad? [14:36] I don't know where that came from. [14:43] I'm only 63. [14:46] And I'm healthy with a few stints in my heart. [14:50] My doctor says I'm good to go. [14:52] I have no clue where that stuff comes from, guys. [14:57] I've never, ever told anybody that. [15:01] There are moments where you feel like, why am I doing this? [15:06] But, Volpe, I don't get how people can just write crap on social media. [15:16] That has to make y'all feel really bad as journalists. [15:20] Do some of y'all write that crap on there? [15:23] Huh? [15:24] That has to make you feel terrible. [15:30] And you get that. [15:31] And you get away with it. [15:33] And people believe it. [15:35] My mother called, how's Kramer doing? [15:37] My son, I said, what are you talking about? [15:39] Well, he had his leg cut off in an accident today. [15:44] See, older people especially believe that stuff. [15:48] I'm not retiring. [15:50] I plan to hire two coaches quickly. [15:54] I plan to get in the portal and get two or three more players and take a little time off, [16:01] go see my grandchildren, who actually flew in and got in late [16:06] and didn't even see the game. [16:07] I'm not retiring. I plan to hire two coaches quickly. I plan to get in the portal and get two or three more players and take a little time off, go see my grandchildren, who actually flew in and got in late and didn't even see the game. [16:07] But I'll get to visit with them tonight in the hotel. [16:09] But there is no retiring. [16:12] I think that's used a lot in recruiting. [16:16] I think as we get older as coaches, they want to say, well, how much longer is she going to be in the game? [16:23] I'm going to be in this game unless LSU fires me, okay? [16:29] Until I can't put a product on that floor that's competitive or my health fails me. [16:35] So I would appreciate all of you in here, whoever put that out, if you know who they are, [16:41] you need to stop it when you see it because it's just a flat-out lie. [16:50] Question on the center. [16:54] Did I answer that in detail for you? [16:56] Do I need to say it again? [16:59] Coach Moki, I hope you're around for a few more years, too, because you added so much game to this women's basketball. [17:10] So on top of that, as far as journalism, well, we have social media influencers and then we have journalists. [17:16] How many of you are social media influencers in here? [17:21] Probably half of the people in here, huh, to be honest. [17:24] I read an article today on me. [17:26] It was a very good article that someone sent me. [17:29] I've never interviewed with this person ever. [17:33] But this person obviously took a lot of articles through my years of coaching, and she wrote something positive. [17:41] It was amazing. [17:42] It was a very good article. [17:45] But anyway, your question being what? [17:48] Yeah, well, Carol Lawson. [17:52] Of course, you all came from different paths and things like that. [17:55] And she's really dear to this community, Sacramento, because she spent some time here professionally playing and working as a broadcaster. [18:02] But I just want to get your thoughts about her and how she has built this Duke program. [18:08] Actually, I said this to Kara before the game started. [18:14] Kara, you may not remember this, but I watched you in AAU, and I wrote you a personal note when I was an assistant at Louisiana Tech. [18:25] And she said, I absolutely remember it. [18:27] I was playing at Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. [18:31] And I said, yes, you were. [18:34] So I've watched Kara for a long time as a player. [18:37] And then she went to Tennessee. [18:39] Then she's coached or she played in the Olympics, and now she's going to be the Olympic coach. [18:44] So I have nothing but respect for what she has done. [18:50] I didn't like her, honestly, as a TV analyst. [18:53] But I like her as a coach. [18:56] Fair enough? [18:57] Final question right here in the center. [19:03] You've won games like this. [19:05] You've lost games like this. [19:06] What's your message to the team? [19:08] You know, how do they move forward, and what do they take with them in the offseason from a loss like this? [19:13] Well, you thank them. [19:15] You start with your seniors, and you thank them for an unbelievable career, an unbelievable year. [19:21] When you invest in things, it's harder to accept. [19:27] And seniors have Flage with four years, Izzy with four years, and Amaya Joyner with one. [19:34] You thank them because they invested in this program, and they've won a lot of games. [19:44] You remind them that nothing I say is going to make them feel better in the moment and that the sun will come up tomorrow, [19:55] and you're going to have wonderful memories from your time at LSU. [20:03] And then you go and you hug each one of them, and you let them cry. [20:12] I think that's – I don't find that a bad thing. [20:16] If you don't cry, you're not really invested, and you don't care. [20:21] And it's okay to cry, and it's okay to hurt. [20:25] And then each day gets better. [20:31] Coach, we want to thank you as well for your time this evening. [20:39] You got it. [20:40] I'm not retiring though, okay? [20:42] You heard it here. [20:44] It's official. [20:45] Y'all make sure you put that out there, not retiring. [20:48] Thank you, Coach.