Kim Mulkey slams reaction to LSU-South Carolina fracas as ‘a little bit sexist’
Kim Mulkey is pushing back against the criticism she’s faced following her response to the LSU-South Carolina altercation during the SEC championship game. Mulkey, the Tigers’ coach, has been heavily criticized by various pundits, including Shannon Sharpe and USA Today, for her remarks on the incident.
Mulkey has labeled the criticism as “a little bit sexist,” suggesting that the media has blown the incident out of proportion compared to similar occurrences in men’s basketball. She believes that confrontations like the one between Kamilla Cardoso and Flau’jae Johnson are not uncommon in highly competitive games between tough teams.
Expressing her frustration with the media’s handling of the situation, Mulkey argues that similar incidents in men’s basketball receive far less attention and scrutiny. She dismisses the altercation as a mere “shoving match,” emphasizing that it was not as serious as portrayed.
"Nobody got in a fight. There were no punches thrown. There was nobody choked. It was a shoving match. Whoop-dee-doo!"@LSUwbkb @KimMulkey had plenty to say at our final radio show of the year at @TJRibsAcadian.
"It comes across as a little bit sexist." #LSU pic.twitter.com/13d8RcxyIK
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) March 13, 2024
However, beyond the players involved, there was an additional aspect to the altercation. Johnson’s brother, Trayron Milton, was arrested for allegedly pushing down a female SEC employee while entering the court. Mulkey, addressing this aspect, expressed her wish that Cardoso had confronted someone her own size, suggesting that pushing down someone much smaller was uncalled for.
Mulkey’s comments reflect her attempt to defend her team and her perspective on the situation, highlighting what she perceives as a double standard in the coverage of women’s basketball compared to men’s.