Impressed Kim Mulkey wants to snatch talent from South Carolina in the transfer portal, says Dawn Staley won't let her do it

Kim Mulkey had nothing but praise after Dawn Staley handed her the first loss of the 2024-25 season. South Carolina came from behind to win the contest 66-56 on Friday. LSU and Gamecocks started the game with fireworks, combining for 43 first-quarter points.

While the Tigers put up a fight, Staley's team gradually built the scoring gap, never allowing the visitors to lead again. Mulkey commended South Carolina's rotation, depth and talent after the game, joking that she will ask Staley for some of the players that she does not utilize as much.

"Imma call Dawn and tell her to send me some of those she doesn't play. I don't think she'll do it though," she said.

Kim Mulkey's bench produced just two points and five rebounds on 1 of 9 shooting. Dawn Staley saw 31 points, 10 rebounds, five steals, four blocks and three assists stemming from the reserves (11 of 31 shooting).

In LSU's game against the then-No. 16 Tennessee, which was the Tigers' biggest ranked game before Gamecocks, the bench produced 26 points, nine rebounds and four steals on 52% shooting.

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Kim Mulkey's plans on moving ahead after the loss against Dawn Staley

Despite the loss, Kim Mulkey believes that the game showcased that her team can keep up with the best team in the nation. With that, she plans on encouraging her players to improve and instill the belief that the biggest games of the season are yet to come.

"You talk about what each of them could have done better, you make them answer it, you get in the film room for a short period of time and then you get back to work," she said. "You head to Baton Rouge and you get in that film room for a little bit, then you start on a very um good A&M team that just beat Kentucky at home. [5:28]

"This is not the biggest game of the year. Y'all might think it is but it's not. The biggest game of the year is when you get to the playoffs and you got to keep grinding."

Kim Mulkey's Lady Tigers (20-1, 5-1 SEC) will host Texas A&M (10-8, 3-3 conference) on Sunday before facing the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners for its fourth ranked game of the season.