Breaking News: LSU Tigers women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey Has Been Rushed To The Hospital After Suffering A Heart Failure
Kim Mulkey, the head coach of the LSU Tigers women’s basketball team, was admitted to the hospital early this morning after possibly developing heart failure, which is a startling and extremely worrisome event. According to reports, the Hall of Fame coach, who is renowned for her aggressive on-field presence and revolutionary influence on the program, was at a preseason staff meeting at LSU’s basketball facility when she suddenly felt short of breath and chest pain.
Mulkey was quickly taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge after emergency personnel were dispatched to the site, where she is currently being closely.
Details surrounding the incident remain fluid, but LSU Athletics confirmed the hospitalization in a brief statement released midday: “Coach Kim Mulkey experienced a medical emergency earlier today and is receiving care at a local hospital. We ask for privacy for Coach Mulkey and her family during this time, and we will provide updates as appropriate.” The statement did not specify the nature of the medical event, but multiple sources close to the program told ESPN that Mulkey complained of heart-related symptoms before losing consciousness briefly. Medical personnel at the facility administered immediate CPR and stabilized her condition before her transport.
Mulkey, 61, is among the most successful individuals in the history of women’s college basketball. After taking over LSU’s program in 2021, the three-time NCAA champion coach—who had led Baylor to victories in 2005, 2012, and 2019—revived the Tigers and led them to their first national championship in 2023.
She is a controversial but widely admired figure in the sport because of her fierce coaching methods, tactical skill, and unrepentant demeanor. The basketball community has come together in response to her illness, with players, coaches.
According to witnesses, Mulkey was engaged in a routine preseason strategy session with assistant coaches when she began exhibiting signs of distress. “She paused mid-sentence, gripped her chest, and said she felt lightheaded,” a staff member recounted anonymously. “Someone called 911 immediately. It was terrifying—everyone sprung into action.” Paramedics arrived within minutes and reportedly detected irregularities in Mulkey’s heart rhythm before transporting her to the hospital. As of this afternoon, her condition has been described as “stable but critical” by a hospital spokesperson, though no further specifics about her diagnosis or prognosis have been disclosed.
Cardiologists who are not involved in Mulkey’s case have hypothesized that cardiac episodes may be caused by the strain of high-pressure coaching in addition to the emotional and physical demands of the job.
“Coaching at this level requires a 24/7 commitment,” sports medicine expert Dr. Marcus Allen stated. “Adrenaline spikes during gaming, combined with chronic stress and sleep deprivation, create a perfect storm for heart health risks, especially in older folks.” Mulkey has always been praised for her unwavering work ethic and has never revealed any prior cardiac issues in public.
The timing of Mulkey’s hospitalization adds another layer of urgency for the LSU program, which is just weeks away from tipping off its 2024-25 season. The Tigers, led by star forward Flau’jae Johnson and reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Mikaylah Williams, are poised to defend their national title. Associate head coach Gary Redus II, a longtime Mulkey assistant, is expected to assume interim coaching duties, though players and staff are reportedly reeling from the news. The team canceled practice today, opting instead to gather for a private meeting and prayer session.
“Coach Mulkey is more than a coach to us—she’s family,” Johnson said in an emotional statement to reporters. “We’re all praying for her strength and praying she knows how much we love her.” Current and former players, including WNBA stars like Brittney Griner (who played under Mulkey at Baylor) and LSU alumnae Seimone Augustus, have shared tributes online, emphasizing Mulkey’s mentorship and resilience. Even rivals have set aside competition to voice support. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, whose teams have clashed memorably with Mulkey’s in recent years, tweeted: “The basketball world stands with Kim. Fight like you always do. We’re all pulling for you.”
