EXCLUSIVE: Kim Mulkey Announces Wedding Date & Venue in Emotional LSU Team Meeting—Details Inside!
In a moment that crossed the lines between coach and family, LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey gathered her squad for what players imagined was another fierce pre-season pep session. Instead, they were surprised with an emotional discovery that left the crowd in tears, shouts, and stunned silence. The Hall of Fame coach, known for her razor-sharp energy and sequined sideline flair, dropped a bombshell: she’s getting married—and she wanted her players to be the first to know.
Sources inside the program describe the scene as “pure electricity.” Mulkey, who has long kept her personal life private, stood before her team with uncharacteristic vulnerability. “Y’all are my warriors on the court,” she said, according to one player, “but today, I need y’all to be my family.” With that, she revealed her wedding date—December 14, 2024—and the venue: a historic plantation-turned-event space in St. Francisville, Louisiana, just 30 minutes from LSU’s campus. The choice of location, she explained, was intentional: close enough for her team to attend without disrupting their season, yet far enough to feel like a “fairytale escape.”
The reaction was swift. Players erupted from their seats, crowding Mulkey with embraces and cheers. “We’ve seen her yell, we’ve seen her weep after championships, but this was different,” said All-American guard Hailey Van Lith.
“She was *happy* in a way we’d never seen.” Team captain Angel Reese reportedly exclaimed, “Bout time, Coach!” before demanding bridesmaid responsibilities, to which Mulkey responded, “You’ll get a corsage and like it.” The levity faded into a more serious moment as Mulkey revealed, “This program raised me as much as I’ve raised it.
The wedding marks a new beginning for Mulkey, 61, whose storied career has often overshadowed her personal journey. Divorced since 2006, she’s raised two children as a single mother while climbing the ranks of collegiate coaching, winning four national titles (three at Baylor, one at LSU) and cementing herself as one of the sport’s most polarizing and successful figures. Her fiancé, whose identity remains under wraps, is described by team insiders as “a Louisiana businessman with zero ties to basketball—which is exactly what she wanted.” Friends say the relationship offered Mulkey a refuge from the pressures of the sport, with one adding, “For the first time in decades, basketball isn’t her only love.”
The timing of the nuptials—midseason—raised eyebrows, but Mulkey assured players it was strategic. “December’s a lighter stretch,” she told them, pointing to a schedule with only two non-conference games. “And if any of y’all believe this means I’ll become soft, bless your hearts.” The remark generated laughs, but the underlying message was clear:
Mulkey’s famed ferocity isn’t going anywhere. Still, the statement has aroused curiosity about her long-term prospects. With LSU ready for another title run and her legacy assured, could marriage mark a gradual step back? “Not a chance,”
For now, the focus is on celebration. Players have already begun planning a raucous bachelorette party (“Golf carts, karaoke, and *no* film sessions,” teased Reese), while assistants are rumored to have commissioned a custom jersey-style veil. As for Mulkey? She’s leaning into the joy. At a recent practice, she interrupted drills to show the team her ring—a vintage-style emerald cut diamond—and deadpanned, “This better be the only thing y’all stare at during free throws.” The blend of her trademark humor and newfound openness has resonated deeply with the team. “We’d run through a wall for her any day,” said Van Lith. “But now? We’re gonna dance at her wedding, too.”
