When Kim Mulkey strides onto the court, she doesn’t just coach — she commands attention.
Mulkey’s fashion choices often make headlines, but it’s the energy behind them that embodies the culture of LSU women’s basketball, and her coaching staff right along with it.
Mulkey, now going into her fifth season at LSU, has always coached with passion, but in Baton Rouge, that intensity has fused with style in a way that’s impossible to ignore. Her glittering game-day outfits — from the metallic tiger stripes to crystal-encrusted blazers — have become symbols of empowerment, individuality and unapologetic flair.
She isn’t dressing to be flashy for its own sake, she’s dressing to reflect what she demands in attitude: fierce, visible and unapologetic. Her presence sends a message to anyone watching her that you can compete at the highest level and own your space in the way you want to.
“I’m just me,” Mulkey said in an interview with On SI. “I’m real. They feel me. I say things in the locker room that if you were just on the outside and you heard you would [gasp], but they love it.”
The realness of being unapologetically herself has become part of what fans, players and staff expect when they show up to the PMAC for basketball games.
Mulkey’s willingness to take chances on the sidelines isn’t new. Her infamous “basketball hoop” outfit featuring a netted design and hoop-themed accents went viral for its creativity and humor. It was a statement that coaching could be both stylish and serious, challenging traditional norms of what coaches are “supposed” to wear on the sidelines.
This is nothing new for Mulkey. She’s been making bold outfit choices since her Baylor days, from head-to-toe gold sets to sparkling tiger blazers. Her fashion has evolved into a language that celebrates confidence, competition and character all at once.
In a 2023 interview with the Louisiana Weekend, Queen of Sparkles founder and Baton Rouge native Jaime Glas said Mulkey wearing her designs happened organically. Her assistant picked out a white sequined jacket with butterflies on it from a boutique one day, which Glas said was “so exciting to see” Mulkey wearing on the sidelines.
Glas has since designed many pieces for Mulkey. The collaboration has brought Mulkey’s energy to life in fabric and rhinestones, combining her competitive edge with a touch of Southern glam that she likes to remind everyone she has.
LSU’s 2023 national championship run not only elevated the program, but also spotlighted the personality Mulkey has infused into every layer of her team. Assistant coaches have even begun embracing their own gameday fashion moments. Bright sneakers, statement blazers and bold colors now fill the sideline beside her.
Mulkey’s fashion isn’t just for show, it’s an extension of her leadership philosophy. Not shying away from confrontation or criticism, her courtside fire has inspired a new generation of coaches and players to embrace personality as power.
“Showtime,” LSU women’s basketball senior Flau’Jae Johnson said. “That’s the word I think of when I see Kim in those outfits, and that kind of reflects and triggers back to us. We’ll be like, ‘Make sure y’all got hair done and look cute, you know, cause look good feel good.’”
As LSU prepares for another title chase, one thing is clear: Mulkey’s impact stretches far beyond the scoreboard. Her sideline sparkle has become a symbol of confidence in women’s sports and a reminder that being bold isn’t just allowed, it’s become the standard.
