Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers are no strangers to the spotlight, but their 94-88 overtime victory over Stanford was a different kind of test. With Stanford’s disciplined 2-3 zone defense and size advantage, LSU had to dig deep to maintain their perfect 10-0 record. While Mikaylah Williams’ heroics ultimately sealed the win, Mulkey’s candid post-game reflections revealed lingering concerns about the Tigers’ vulnerabilities, highlighting what she had concluded about the Cardinals just a few days back.

The post-game press conference struck a nerve when a journalist asked Mulkey how Stanford’s defense affected Aneesah Morrow. Mulkey responded with striking honesty, “Their defense, I couldn’t tell. I’m watching 50 things going on. You know, when the game started, is that a triangle in two? Is that a box in one? Is that just a straight two-three? Is that a three? Whatever they did, it flustered us. But it wasn’t so much what they did defensively that was bad. It’s what we could not stop defensively. We couldn’t stop them.”

Mulkey’s assessment hit the mark, as Stanford had 15 turnovers, but what stood out was their offensive efficiency compared to LSU’s few turnovers. The Tigers only committed four turnovers, yet shockingly, those few mistakes led to 14 points for Stanford.

Aneesah Morrow, a pivotal player for LSU, faced her own struggles. Reluctant to foul out, she was forced into tough defensive positions by Stanford’s relentless offensive execution.

Mulkey acknowledged the challenge, adding, “I mean, we were trying, but, you know, this one would cut, and then we’d be too far off, and she’d hit a three. And I’m going to have to go back and look at the film because, quite honestly, some of those possessions, they had to be switching and doing different stuff.”

After Stanford exposed LSU’s weaknesses with their physicality and methodical approach, Coach Mulkey was forced to reconsider her earlier comment about the post-Tara VanDerveer era Cardinals: “I don’t think they’re as big in the paint as they have been in the past.”

By her own admission, LSU was left flustered by Stanford’s offensive execution and physical dominance and this was also visible on the stat sheet as the Cardinals out-rebounded the Tigers 42-37, further emphasizing the challenges LSU faced against Kate Paye’s new and improved Stanford.

Mulkey also reflected on the discomfort of relying on a small lineup to counter Stanford’s tactics. She admitted, “I’ve got a small lineup in there, so that’s unusual and that’s uncomfortable for me as well as them, so you have to keep it simple.” Despite the win, the game laid bare vulnerabilities that LSU will need to address as they continue their pursuit of an undefeated season.

Williams dominates on the court as LSU rallies under Coach Mulkey

Despite the challenges, Mikaylah Williams emerged as the game-changer. She scored a season-high 32 points, including a game-tying jumper with just 4.3 seconds left to send the game into overtime. Her deep three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining in overtime was the dagger LSU needed to seal the victory. Reserve guard Kailyn Gilbert added 25 points off the bench, while Flau’Jae Johnson chipped in with 21 points.

For much of the game, Stanford seemed poised for an upset. Nunu Agara led the Cardinals with 29 points and 13 rebounds, supported by Brooke Demetre’s 19 points and Elena Bosgana’s 16. Stanford’s starting front line combined for 64 points and 21 rebounds, taking full advantage of LSU’s defensive lapses.

The cracks in Lady Tigers’ armor were undeniable. Stanford’s zone forced LSU to rely on perimeter shooting, a gamble that paid off as the Tigers hit 10 of 25 three-pointers. Yet, Mulkey couldn’t shake the feeling that her past judgment about her team’s defensive capabilities still lingered.

“It wasn’t any great X’s and O’s that I drew up because they were in this, this, and you can’t do that when you’ve got kids playing out of position like Makaylah.”

Mulkey has built her career on turning challenges into growth opportunities. Reflecting on the game, she said, “You just put them in a position where they can get a good look, they can defend. The small lineup normally hurts you on the boards, right? And I just felt stay with it.”

The Tigers’ resilience was evident in their ability to capitalize on turnovers and deliver in clutch moments. LSU converted 15 Stanford turnovers into 7 points and outscored the Cardinals 15-8 in fast-break opportunities.

With the win, LSU remains undefeated but far from unscathed. The Lady Tigers will face Grambling on Sunday, while Stanford moves on to its first ACC game against California. For Mulkey and her team, the focus will be on addressing defensive gaps and maintaining their trajectory in what promises to be an unpredictable season.

As Mulkey said, these moments of vulnerability are where champions are made. For LSU, the challenge is to ensure their haunting past conclusions don’t overshadow the bright future they’re building.