LSU women’s basketball is playing well into March for the fifth-straight year under head coach Kim Mulkey. This time, the race to the Final Four will once again end in Phoenix, Arizona.
Entering the 2026 tournament with physical dominance, improved guard play and postseason experience will prove to be invaluable.
As the Tigers look to dance deeper into March Madness, this is arguably one of Mulkey’s most complete teams, with a transfer master class and multiple freshman superstars. This is something that, on paper, can’t be beaten.
With a 27-5 record this season, No. 2 seed LSU has taken losses in stride and learned lessons, and this was no different against the No. 15 seed Jacksonville Dolphins, taking every lesson learned this season and applying it to come out on top and make it to the second round.
The Tigers’ big names like Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley lead the roster that Mulkey is hoping to utilize as one of the most dangerously stacked programs in March Madness.
During her five-year tenure, Mulkey has hosted the first two rounds in Baton Rouge multiple times with top-seeded teams from the Tigers. But this year, the chemistry on and off the court has been unmatched, paving the way to the highest tournament ranking during her tenure.
“I think the most amazing thing about this team is the unity,” associate coach Bob Starkey said. “I say that because it’s really rare these days, because the portal we had eight new players and by the time school started, they were already jelled.”
Throughout the regular season, LSU has proven it can win in multiple ways. The Tigers’ foundation remains in the interior presence, anchored by consistency on the glass and an ability to control the paint. Simply, that style of play sets the tone night after night.
But what separates this year’s teams from previous years is their growth beyond the post.
Although the bigs, like Kate Koval, Amiya Joyner and Grace Knox, are holding this program together, LSU’s backcourt has taken a noticeable step forward as the season progressed. Led by Johnson, the Tigers have developed into a more efficient offensive group.
That balance–inside strength paired with capable perimeter scoring–has made LSU significantly harder to defend.
Defensively, the Tigers have taken an emphasized approach all season that Mulkey and her staff have not stopped talking about. Tightening the approach heading into March, improved communication and bringing more consistent effort on the perimeter have helped LSU limit opposing scoring runs.
But for LSU, that wasn’t always the defensive story.
It was an area of the game that caused issues earlier this season. When fully focused, LSU has shown the ability to dictate the tempo, a quality that was put on display against the Dolphins, where Jacksonville’s aggression didn’t faze the Tigers. Instead, it fueled the energy on the court and on the bench.
With the win that the Tigers picked up Friday, they move on to the second round of the dance, facing off against Texas Tech on Sunday. With the chemistry on the court and the ease of getting the ball into the net, this complete team looks like it has what it takes to make a promising run deep into the bracket.
