Kim Mulkey blasts 'sexist' media coverage: Why LSU coach takes issue with attention on SEC title game fight

Brendan OSullivan

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Kim Mulkey blasts 'sexist' media coverage: Why LSU coach takes issue with attention on SEC title game fight image

Kim Mulkey is adding another layer to the LSU vs. South Carolina altercation.

The LSU coach has expressed her desire to move on from the SEC Championship incident that led to numerous ejections on both sides, and she believes the media should put the story to rest, too.

Mulkey said Thursday that the media's coverage wouldn't have been as extensive for men, thus calling it "sexist."

“When you have two tough teams who play so hard, who are so good, and compete, those kind of things happen,” Mulkey said on her weekly appearance on WAFB in Baton Rouge. “And it’s so out of control with the media right now. You don’t give that much attention when the men do it, so why do you keep writing it about the women? It really comes across, and I’ll just say it, it comes across as a little bit sexist.”

Mulkey suggested that the media is "tearing down two great teams" and a "woman that coaches one of those teams."

"It's not newsworthy after the first introduction," Mulkey said. "I've seen every men's game that has had something like that, and it's no big deal. We mention it. We move on."

What Kim Mulkey said about South Carolina-LSU fight

Mulkey has changed her stance on the SEC Championship altercation just a few days after the incident took place.

She was disappointed in South Carolina's Kamilla Cardoso for shoving LSU's Flau'jae Johnson and added that she wished Cardoso picked on someone her own size, like Angel Reese.

"No one wants be a part of that," Mulkey said during the postgame press conference. "No one wants to see that ugliness, but I can tell you this. I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese. Don't push a kid. You're 6-8, don't push somebody that little. Let them two girls that were jawing, let them go at it."

Since then, Mulkey has switched her tone on the brawl, even noting that it wasn't a fight but rather a "shoving match."

"Nobody got in a fight," Mulkey said on WAFB in Baton Rouge. "There were no punches thrown. There was nobody choked. It was a shoving match. Whoop-dee-doo. So, let's move on."

MORE: Why Dawn Staley called out CBS Sports: Radio host made 'offensive' remark

LSU vs. South Carolina fight video

The SEC Championship between LSU and South Carolina lived up to its expectations of being a hard-nosed battle, but it still got out of hand toward the end of the contest.

Cardoso, Johnson, and Ashlyn Watkins found themselves in the center of the altercation late in the fourth quarter. Johnson pushed Watkins to the side after the South Carolina sophomore celebrated in front of her.

That's when Cardoso stormed in, shoving Johnson to the ground, ultimately leading to her ejection. Benches emptied as the fracas ensued mid court. Johnson's brother also jumped over the scorer's table and got involved, but he was immediately taken away in handcuffs.

Cardoso was ejected along with the majority of both benches since players cannot leave the bench area during an altercation. Cardoso is ineligible to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but the others ejected are available.

The South Carolina big immediately apologized on X, formerly Twitter, following the game.

Brendan OSullivan

Brendan OSullivan Photo

Brendan O'Sullivan is an editorial intern for Sporting News, joining in 2024. He previously worked at Newsday on Long Island, New York after graduating from Quinnipiac University.