DALLAS — Angel Reese and the rest of her LSU teammates filed off the American Airlines Court and into a joyous locker room. A spirit squad member lifted Mike the Tiger on his shoulders to celebrate. The team’s supporters roared in delight. Amid the jubilation, LSU’s Kim Mulkey was the last member of the Tigers to exit the floor, soaking in the moment she had orchestrated. “Never ever do you think you’re gonna do something like this in two years,” she said.
What they had done was blitz No. 1 seed Virginia Tech with a 22-3 fourth quarter run to open the frame. What they had done was hold on for a 79-72 victory. What they had done was win their 33rd game of the season, a victory that moved No. 3 seed LSU to the first national championship in school history.
The Tigers are on the precipice of a title. Even Mulkey, who is never short on confidence, is a little surprised at how quickly everything has come together.
When she was hired on April 25, 2021, an overhaul began almost overnight. Within 10 days, the program raised roughly $1.3 million, according to The Athletic. They moved into a new training room, and into new offices. But almost a year to the day later, another change was put in motion — one that might be as important as anything else that has occurred in the…
