Women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey is the subject of a bombshell report outlining her alleged discriminatory treatment of gay players, as well as her body shaming of overweight athletes, during her time at both Baylor and LSU.
Despite the threat of legal action from Mulkey, a profile detailing her coaching style behind closed doors dropped ahead of the Tigers’ win vs. UCLA on Saturday.
The 61-year-old is accused of having a proclivity for heated team meetings while it’s claimed that staffers “mitigated the risk” of Mulkey’s verbal abuse being recorded by confiscating players’ cell phones.
One such example is from 2022 when two Tigers players got into an altercation. Mulkey is said to have gone “ballistic,” and one person who was present noted, “My regret in this life, I didn’t record this meeting.“
Kim Mulkey allegedly treated gay players differently and embarrassed players for weight, per @washingtonpost
Read more here: https://t.co/gChU0gAU5D pic.twitter.com/R1A9H6ti3d
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 30, 2024
The Washington Post‘s report, written by Kent Babb, claims head coach is also alleged to have used intimidation tactics with players, which includes attempts to shame them by making them weigh in front of the team.
A former Baylor player coached by Mulkey during her time with the Bears from 2007 to 2010, Kelli Griffin, is among former players who told Babb that Mulkey used the above tactic very often to get desired results from players.
Griffin, who is gay, said the coach began treating her differently when she found out about her sexual preference.
“Kim Mulkey is an amazing coach; the reason I went to Baylor is because of her,” she said, adding Mulkey “made my life hell.“
Kim Mulkey Has Denied The Claims While Other Former Players Have Supported Her
The coach and her lawyers have denied that she treated gay players “more harshly or differently” than others, including statements from several players in support of her account.
Morghan Medlock, a former Baylor player, revealed she was in a relationship with Griffin and never saw Kim Mulkey mistreat Griffin or any other homosexual player.
Lexis Morris, who played for both the Bears and Tigers said “Coach Mulkey is not homophobic.“
Brittney Griner, the most notable player Kim Mulkey coached, wrote in her memoir that Mulkey urged players to “keep your business behind closed doors.” While she didn’t come out as gay until after playing her final game for the Bears, Griner wrote that Mulkey would often attribute any personal issues to “girlfriend problems.”
DENVER, CO – APRIL 03: Brittney Griner #42 (L) and Jordan Madden (obscured) #3 of the Baylor Bears hug head coach Kim Mulkey after they won 80-61 against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the National Final game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship at Pepsi Center on April 3, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Mulkey was aware that the story was due to come out this weekend and, before it did, she referred to it as a “hit piece” in front of reporters.
“I’ve hired the best defamation law firm in the country, and I will sue the Washington Post if they publish a false story about me,” she declared.
She also told ESPN’s Holly Rowe on Saturday she hadn’t read the story and wasn’t sure she would.
“I can tell you I haven’t read it,” she said. “Don’t know that I will read it. I’ll leave that up to my attorneys.”
