Mulkey and her Tigers are on fire. Sure, they took a tough loss to Staley and South Carolina, but the Louisiana powerhouse and their fearless coach have been steamrolling their competition, stacking win after win with ruthless precision. In the middle of it all, one young tigress has stepped up and earned her stripes. It’s the sophomore who dropped a jaw-dropping 37 points in her last game!

Yes, that sophomore—Mikaylah Williams. After her standout performance, Mulkey shared a game-changing moment, posting on X: “Someone who recently came to see Mikaylah Williams play for the first time vs. Oklahoma told her after the game that Williams reminded them of UConn great Maya Moore. Whoa.”

Now, that’s a comparison that makes you pause. Maya Moore, a 4X WNBA champion, 1X MVP, 3X Finals MVP—one of the most decorated players in women’s basketball history. That’s a huge bar to hit. But after another dominant 22-point performance in LSU’s 81-67 win over Mississippi State, Williams is proving she’s more than ready to rise to the challenge.

In a game where Flau’Jae Johnson matched Mikaylah’s 22 points and Aneesah Morrow put up 18 points and a jaw-dropping 20 rebounds, LSU, now 23-1 overall and 8-1 in SEC play, is showing the world they’re not just good—they’re a force to be reckoned with.

It was their 3rd consecutive win since their loss to the Gamecocks and they showed they were ready to tackle it all in their previous. Facing Oklahoma in a top-15 matchup, the Tigers put up a show of physicality and toughness. Both teams seemed to have an answer to the other, recording a combined total of 53 fouls. There were also ejections, suspensions, and technicals issued, with fans voicing the game was getting out of refs’ hands.

Speaking about the physicality in the conference, Mulkey had a message for anyone who doubts her Tigers: “We’ll bang with you.” Simple. Powerful. This is LSU’s approach, and they’re just getting started.

Mulkey’s Tigers show grit, depth, and dominance in statement win over Mississippi State

That mentality was on full display against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs, who upset LSU last season, tried to muscle their way to another shock win. In the first half, they outscored the Tigers 20-16 in the paint, clawing back from an 18-point deficit to narrow the gap to six at halftime. But LSU wasn’t backing down.

In the second half, they responded with defensive intensity, forcing 19 turnovers that turned into 23 points. Every loose ball, every rebound, every shot in the paint was contested—and LSU didn’t just hold their ground, they dominated.

Williams, the “Maya Moore of LSU,” thrived in this chaos. She shot 8-of-16 from the field, knocking down four of eight three-point attempts, showcasing her ability to score at all levels.

And it wasn’t just the shooting that made LSU unstoppable—it was their dominance on the glass. Both teams finished with 17 offensive rebounds, but LSU turned theirs into key second-chance opportunities, swinging momentum in their favor. Morrow, with her relentless energy, pulled down 20 rebounds, ensuring Mississippi State could never settle inside.

This game also highlighted LSU’s depth. With starting center Sa’Myah Smith serving a one-game suspension, Arkansas transfer Jersey Wolfenbarger stepped up with 12 points in her first start. It was a smooth transition, proving that LSU has the kind of depth that allows them to overcome any challenge.