Kim Mulkey reportedly “disciplined” LSU player for expressing support toward Brittney Griner during detainment

Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner played four seasons of college basketball under coach Kim Mulkey at Baylor. After their time at Baylor, Mulkey and Griner reportedly have not maintained a good relationship.

Griner, a nine-time WNBA All-Star was held in Russia in 2022 for almost 10 months due to accusations of carrying hashish oil in her luggage. The Daily Advertiser reached out to Mulkey for her thoughts on Brittney but to no avail.

The Lafayette Daily Advertiser revealed the incident in a story about Kim Mulkey. In the article, Washington Post writer Kent Babb claims that Mulkey, the former head coach at Baylor, might have punished a player for supporting Griner publicly.

"In Babb’s email, he wrote, 'an LSU player was disciplined as a result of screenshotting and sharing a social media message of support for Griner during Griner's detainment.'"

However, the specifics of the punishment and the player's identity remain undisclosed in the news reports.

According to the Sporting News, the rift between Mulkey and Griner goes way back. Griner mentioned that she experienced pressure to conceal her sexuality and felt mistreated during her college years because of it.

"When I was at Baylor, I wasn't fully happy because I couldn't be all the way out," Griner told ESPN in 2013. "It feels so good saying it: I am a strong, Black lesbian woman. Every single time I say it, I feel so much better."

"I already knew the answer," Griner said about asking Mulkey if she could come out. "I didn't want to hear 'No.' It was a recruiting thing. The coaches thought if it seemed like they condoned it, people wouldn't let their kids play for Baylor."

Mulkey last spoke publicly about Griner back in February 2024 during the ceremony where Griner's jersey was retired at Baylor.

"It’s awesome," Mulkey said. "That’s awesome. I bet it’ll be a great environment."

Kim Mulkey shares her thoughts following the Washington Post article

The Washington Post published an article in March profiling the inside workings of LSU women's basketball.

The Washington Post's article contains plenty of bold claims about coach Mulkey. Before LSU's game against UCLA in March, Mulkey was questioned about the piece.

"So you're the bearer of good news or bad news," Mulkey said. "Are you really surprised by the timing of it? I can tell you I haven't read it. I don't know that I will read it. I'll leave it up to my attorneys."

Mulkey was displeased with the article and even said that she would pursue legal action if the story proved to be false.