How LSU Women's Basketball Became the Nation's Most Dominant Team

I remember watching LSU's women's basketball team during their championship run last season and thinking, "This isn't just a good team - this is something special happening." Having followed women's college basketball for over a decade, I've seen dominant programs come and go, but what LSU has built under Kim Mulkey feels different. It reminds me of that fascinating phenomenon at the University of the Philippines where sports success somehow manages to exorcise curses - both literal and metaphorical. At LSU, they haven't just built a winning program; they've broken what felt like decades of basketball frustration in Baton Rouge.

When Kim Mulkey arrived in April 2021, the program had only reached one Final Four in its entire history. I was skeptical at first - great coaches don't always succeed in new environments. But Mulkey brought something beyond X's and O's; she brought what I like to call "championship swagger." In her first season, the Tigers improved from 9-13 to 26-6. That's not just improvement - that's a complete program transformation. The numbers speak for themselves: attendance at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center increased by 187% in her first year, from averaging around 2,100 fans to nearly 6,000. This wasn't just about winning games; it was about changing the culture around women's basketball at LSU.

The 2023 championship run was where everything crystallized for me. Watching Angel Reese develop into arguably the most dominant player in the country - averaging 23.0 points and 15.4 rebounds during their title run - felt like witnessing basketball history. Her declaration "I'm too hood for some people" after the championship game wasn't just a moment; it was a statement about this team's identity. They played with an edge, with personality, with what some might call arrogance but what I see as supreme confidence. This team didn't just want to win - they wanted to dominate, to make statements, to capture the national conversation in ways women's college basketball rarely does.

What's fascinating to me is how LSU's success has mirrored that University of the Philippines phenomenon I mentioned earlier. At UP, winning their first-ever UAAP basketball championship in 2021 was described by many as "exorcising curses" - ending decades of frustration and changing the entire athletic culture. Similarly, LSU's women's basketball program had been living in the shadow of other SEC powers for years. They hadn't won a national championship before 2023, despite having talented teams. The curse wasn't just about losing - it was about being perpetually good but never great, always the bridesmaid in a conference dominated by South Carolina and Tennessee.

The transfer portal has been Mulkey's secret weapon, and I've got to say, her ability to identify and integrate talent is unlike anything I've seen in women's basketball. She brought in Hailey Van Lith this season after losing several key players from the championship team, and the Tigers haven't missed a beat. They're currently sitting at 18-2 this season, with their only losses coming against ranked opponents. The way Mulkey has adapted to the modern era of college athletics - embracing the transfer portal while still developing high school recruits - shows a flexibility that many veteran coaches struggle with. She recognized that building a program today requires different tools than it did twenty years ago.

Let's talk about that offense for a moment - because honestly, it's breathtaking to watch. They're averaging 92.3 points per game this season, which leads the nation by a significant margin. The next closest team is at 86.7. That gap is astronomical in basketball terms. They play with a pace and freedom that's rare in women's college basketball, combined with an efficiency that makes them nearly impossible to stop. When they get rolling, it feels like watching a wave crashing over opponents - relentless, powerful, and ultimately overwhelming.

The cultural impact of this team extends far beyond basketball, and this is where I believe their true legacy will be. They've become must-see television in ways that transcend sports. Their games regularly draw over 1.2 million viewers, numbers that would have been unthinkable for women's college basketball just five years ago. They've embraced the spotlight, the controversy, the drama - and in doing so, they've captured the imagination of casual sports fans who might not normally watch women's basketball. Personally, I love their approach - they're unapologetically themselves, whether people like it or not.

Looking ahead, what impresses me most is the sustainability of what Mulkey has built. They have the nation's third-ranked recruiting class coming in next season, including the number one overall prospect Mikaylah Williams. The pipeline of talent shows no signs of slowing down. In many ways, LSU women's basketball has become what UConn was a decade ago - the standard that every other program measures itself against. The difference, in my view, is the personality. This LSU team has an edge, a confidence that feels distinctly modern and perfectly suited to today's sports landscape.

As I reflect on their journey from middle-of-the-pack SEC team to national powerhouse, I'm struck by how quickly the transformation occurred. In just three seasons, Mulkey has created not just a winning team but a cultural phenomenon. They've broken curses, shattered expectations, and redefined what's possible for a women's basketball program. The numbers tell one story - the championships, the scoring records, the attendance figures. But the real story is about identity, about a program that decided it wouldn't just compete but would dominate, wouldn't just win but would captivate. And honestly, as someone who loves this sport, I couldn't be more excited to see what they do next.