Kim Mulkey vs The Washington Post: Everything we know

BATON ROUGE — The Washington Post published a story Saturday about LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey, who has threatened to sue the outlet if it publishes a "false story about me."

Mulkey said last Saturday during her press conference ahead of LSU women's basketball's 2024 NCAA Tournament second-round game against Middle Tennessee inside Pete Maravich Assembly Center that she has hired the "best defamation law firm" and would take legal action if the news outlet publishes a story about her containing erroneous information.

Mulkey prepared an opening statement that went nearly four minutes in length.

Before LSU's first-round game against Rice on Friday, reports began to circulate on social media about The Washington Post working on an article about Mulkey that could be released as early as next week, and that "wagons (were) being circled."

Here is what we know.

Kim Mulkey addresses The Washington Post story ahead of Elite 8

The Washington Post's profile of Mulkey published Saturday just a couple of hours before LSU's Sweet 16 showdown against UCLA. The Tigers ended up winning the game 78-69 inside MVP Arena in Albany, New York.

Mulkey was asked Sunday morning ahead of LSU's Elite 8 matchup with Iowa if she's had a chance to read the story, and she said she doesn't plan on it.

"I haven't read that trash. I'm not going to read it," Mulkey said. "That's why I hired lawyers. The lawyers will review it, and when this season is over, they'll give me a call and say, 'This is our next step.' I'm not reading that stuff."

What The Washington Post story says about Kim Mulkey

The story says Mulkey holds grudges to the point that she hasn't talked to her father or sister for years, nor to some former players who left her programs.

Mulkey is accused by some former players of treating gay players differently, especially during her time at Baylor, a school affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas that has policies that condemn extramarital sex and define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

She is accused of having held harsh practices and belittling players over personal conduct, including holding weigh-ins in front of the team and making fun of players' hair color and clothing choices.

What Kim Mulkey said about The Washington Post following Middle Tennessee win

LSU trailed 36-32 at halftime to Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center before going on a 51-20 run in the second half to defeat the Blue Raiders 83-56 and advance to the Sweet 16.

After the game, Mulkey told reporters she didn't think the pending story from The Post caused any distraction for her team.

"No. Listen, man, we're not going to let one sleazy reporter distract us from what we're trying to do. Absolutely not," Mulkey said. "My kids didn't even know I said that yesterday. That team is not involved in this. They were in shock when they saw all that on the internet. I don't take that stuff to my team."

When did The Washington Post reach out to Kim Mulkey, LSU?

Mulkey opened her statement Saturday by saying The Post first reached out to her two years ago about the story. An athletic department source confirmed to The Daily Advertiser the school was first approached by The Post as part of its reporting two years ago.

For two years, the news organization sought a sit-down interview with Mulkey, which she said Saturday she has been unwilling to do. Then, the outlet reached back out to LSU this past Tuesday, two days before LSU's NCAA Tournament opener at home versus Rice, with "more than two dozen questions, demanding a response by Thursday right before we're scheduled to tip off," Mulkey said.

"Are you kidding me?" Mulkey said. "This was a ridiculous deadline that LSU and I could not possibly meet, and the reporter knew it.

"Unfortunately, this is part of a pattern that goes back years. I told this reporter two years ago that I didn't appreciate the hit job he wrote on (LSU football coach) Brian Kelly, and that's why I wasn't going to do an interview with him."

What is The Washington Post alleging?

The contents of the rumored, as-yet-unpublished reporting by The Washington Post regarding Mulkey are unclear. When contacted Saturday, The Washington Post declined to comment to the USA Today Sports Network.

According to Mulkey, the outlet has spent the better part of two years calling and contacting Mulkey's former coaches and players.

Mulkey alleges that The Post has called "former disgruntled players to get negative quotes to include in their story."

"Former players have told me that The Washington Post has contacted them and offered to let them be anonymous in a story if they'll say negative things about me," she said. "... They're ignoring the 40-plus years of positive stories that people — or they have heard from people about me."

What Kim Mulkey alleges about The Washington Post's reporting methods

Mulkey cited a story she called a "hit job" the outlet wrote on LSU football coach Brian Kelly two years ago.

"Unfortunately, this is a pattern that goes back years," Mulkey said.

Mulkey alleges The Post misled two of her former college coaches, with a reporter leaving messages claiming he was "with me in Baton Rouge to get them to call him back, trying to trick these coaches into believing that I was working" with The Post on the story, she said.

She said her former coaching colleagues "were just distraught, and they felt completely misled" after learning that Mulkey had turned down interview requests from the outlet and was not cooperating with the reporter.

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"You see, reporters who give a megaphone to a one-sided, embellished version of things aren't trying to tell the truth. They're trying to sell newspapers and feed the click machine," Mulkey said.

"This is exactly why people don't trust journalists and the media anymore. It's these kinds of sleazy tactics and hatchet jobs that people are just tired of."

Will Kim Mulkey sue The Washington Post?

While The Washington Post has not published any story on Mulkey or LSU women's basketball out of its reporting, she has gotten out ahead of it with her statement at the news conference.

She told reporters she has hired "the best defamation law firm in the country" with plans to take action if the story reports any falsehoods about her.

"I'm fed up, and I'm not going to let The Washington Post attack this university, this awesome team of young women I have, or me without a fight. 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," Mulkey said.

"Not many people are in a position to hold these kinds of journalists accountable, but I am, and I'll do it."

It's not known if Mulkey will take legal action now that the story is published.

When does LSU women's basketball play again?

LSU (32-5) faces No. 1 Iowa (32-4) inside MVP Arena in Albany, New York Monday night (7:15 p.m., ESPN).

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz atbdiaz@gannett.com.