You’ve seen the headlines, right? Everyone was ready to write off the Tigers after those early January stumbles against Kentucky and Vanderbilt. It felt like the air kind of hissed out of the PMAC for a second. But if you actually follow LSU women's basketball news, you know Kim Mulkey doesn't exactly do "quiet exits." She does adjustments. Hard ones.
Honestly, the way this team just dismantled No. 13 Oklahoma in Norman on Sunday was a statement. 91-72. On the road. Against a team that was scoring 90 points a night. It wasn't just a win; it was a reminder that while the roster looks different without Angel Reese or Aneesah Morrow (who is currently killing it for the Connecticut Sun, by the way), the DNA is still very much purple and gold.
Why LSU Women's Basketball News is Shifting Toward Defense
Basically, Mulkey got tired of her team "not knowing how to finish." That’s a direct quote from her after the Texas game. She literally put a "rebound bubble" on the rim during practice last week. No balls could go in. If you didn't grab the board? You ran.
Simple. Brutal. Effective.
It showed. LSU didn't just beat No. 2 Texas 70-65 last Sunday; they out-rebounded them 44-35. Against Oklahoma, they held the Sooners to 36.6% shooting. Jada Richard—who is quickly becoming the "glue" player nobody talked about enough in the preseason—put on a masterclass in defensive tempo. Flau'jae Johnson even called her out after the game, saying Richard was the one "dictating" what Oklahoma could even try to do.
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The Flau'jae and Mikaylah Factor
We have to talk about Flau'jae Johnson. She’s a senior now. It’s wild to think about. She’s not just the rapper with the Roc Nation deal anymore; she’s the undisputed leader of this floor. Her 23 points and 10 rebounds against the Sooners were huge, but it's her efficiency that’s jumping off the stat sheet. She’s shooting 51% from the floor this season. That’s elite for a guard who takes the volume of shots she does.
Then there’s Mikaylah Williams. The Bossier City native is cold. Just straight-up ice.
Remember that three-pointer against Texas? The one with one second on the shot clock and 80 seconds left in the game? The PMAC almost shook off its foundation. She’s currently averaging about 14.5 points per game, but it’s her defensive improvement that has Mulkey actually smiling in press conferences. Williams admitted herself that Mulkey has been "riding her" about defense since she stepped foot in Baton Rouge.
The Standings: Where Do the Tigers Actually Sit?
Don't let the 3-2 SEC record fool you. The start of the 2026 conference schedule was a gauntlet.
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LSU is currently sitting at 17-2 overall. They’ve reeled off three straight wins after that 0-2 start in league play. The SEC is a nightmare this year—Vanderbilt and South Carolina are still undefeated in the conference—but LSU just proved they can take down Top 15 teams back-to-back.
- Current Rank: No. 6 (AP Poll)
- Next Big Test: No. 4 Texas (the rematch) on February 5.
- The Big One: No. 2 South Carolina on February 14. Happy Valentine's Day, I guess?
The depth is starting to show, too. You’ve got Grace Knox and MiLaysia Fulwiley coming off the bench or starting depending on the matchup, and both are finding ways to score in double digits. Even Jada Richard, the sophomore, just dropped a career-high 21 points in Norman.
What Most People Get Wrong
Most fans think LSU is just a "track meet" team. They think they just want to outscore you 100 to 90. And yeah, they are the No. 1 scoring offense in the country right now, averaging just over 100 points.
But look at the free-throw line. In the Oklahoma game, LSU outscored the Sooners 29-8 at the stripe. They aren't just running; they are punishing people in the paint. They are forcing fouls. They are being "tough," which is Mulkey's favorite word.
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The narrative that this team is "vulnerable" because they don't have a singular dominant post player like they used to is sorta falling apart. They’re doing it by committee. Knox, Richard, and Williams are all chipping in on the boards, and it’s making them harder to scout because you can't just double-team one person and hope for the best.
What to Watch Next
If you're following LSU women's basketball news, the next few weeks are basically a preview of the Elite Eight. They play Texas A&M this Thursday, then Florida and Arkansas. Those are "trap" games. If they lose focus before that Texas rematch in February, the momentum they just built in Norman could evaporate.
Keep an eye on the health of the rotation. Mulkey is playing her starters heavy minutes. It works when you're winning, but the SEC schedule is a grind.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, watch the rebounding numbers in the first quarter of the A&M game. That’s the real tell. If they’re aggressive early, the "rebound bubble" practices are still stuck in their heads. If they’re lazy? Expect a long night at the PMAC.
Check the official SEC standings daily because the middle of the pack is shifting every Tuesday and Thursday. The Tigers are climbing, but with South Carolina looking like a juggernaut, every single game from here on out is essentially a playoff for seeding.