With 20 seconds left on the clock and the game tied, it looked like LSU’s incredible 17-game winning streak might finally come to an end. But doubters Kim Mulkey and her Tigers was a mistake. LSU once again proved their mettle in a nail-biting finish. Off the court, though, Mulkey showed her softer side, continuing her heartfelt tradition of gifting soon-to-be moms among her coaching peers.

Before Thursday’s SEC clash between LSU and Tennessee, the head coach presented Lady Vols’ head coach Kim Caldwell with a thoughtful baby gift. The moment warmed hearts as Mulkey handed over a curated hamper for Caldwell, who is expecting her first child this month. It’s not the first time Mulkey has extended this sweet gesture, and it certainly won’t be the last.

Back in 2017, when Mulkey was leading Baylor, she surprised then-Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb with a baby gift before an NCAA tournament game. “Kim gave me a baby gift today at shoot-around. I thought that was very thoughtful,” Gottlieb said after Baylor’s win. The gift was a baby wrap known as a Moby, perfect for a new mom. 

But the gesture went beyond the present. It was Mulkey’s way of encouraging Gottlieb and reinforcing that women can excel in both coaching and parenting. The coach’s inspiration comes from her own experience as a mom and the wisdom she gained from the legendary Pat Summitt. 

Summitt assured Mulkey that raising kids while coaching wasn’t just possible—it could be done well. Mulkey’s gesture to Caldwell before the LSU-Tennessee showdown carried that same energy. Although her due date is reportedly Jan 20, the LSU HC even joked about being ready to deliver Caldwell’s baby courtside if needed.

And while the gift likely brought a smile to Caldwell’s face, the game that followed brought nothing but heartbreak for Tennessee. LSU came out strong, building an 18-point lead in the second quarter. Aneesah Morrow notched a double-double by halftime with 19 points and 10 rebounds. 

Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams chipped in with 11 points and 16 points, respectively. But Tennessee wasn’t going down without a fight. The Lady Vols clawed their way back. By the fourth, Tennessee even managed to grab a brief lead. The game went back and forth until LSU found themselves tied with Tennessee with just 20 seconds left on the clock. That’s when Mulkey made her move.

Mulkey called on Kailyn Gilbert, who had been on fire in the third quarter, scoring 11 points to keep LSU in the game. With less than a second remaining, Gilbert sank a clutch layup to secure an 89-87 victory for the Tigers. 

Tennessee had one last shot, but it didn’t fall, handing LSU their 18th consecutive win and keeping their undefeated streak alive. And, among other victories, this has been made possible because of the coach’s smart player rotations

Kim Mulkey’s rotations are working their magic

Mulkey’s leadership this season has been all about depth. Thursday night’s game marked LSU’s sixth different starting lineup of the season, and the Tigers’ ability to rely on their bench has been key to their success. Gilbert’s heroics are just the latest example of Mulkey’s willingness to trust her players in moments like these.

Earlier this season, she leaned on bench stars like Alexis Morris and Jasmine Carson to deliver when it matters most. This strategy keeps the team fresh, gives younger players valuable experience, and ensures that LSU isn’t overly reliant on any one star. 

Mulkey’s rotations allow her to keep opponents guessing. Now, with this win, LSU remains unbeaten at 18-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC. Next up, they host Vanderbilt on Monday.  Seems like the Lady Tigers are eyeing a repeat of South Carolina’s undefeated run to a title, can they pull it off?