"Nothing is withering in Waco": Baylor's HC Nicki Collen hits back at The Washington Post's claim of Bears withering after Kim Mulkey's departure

After The Washington Post's profile-based article on Kim Mulkey was published and went viral on Saturday, many people reacted. Baylor Bears coach Nicki Collen, her successor, also gave her two cents about what Mulkey called a "hit piece" before the story was published.

The Washington Post's Kent Babb wrote that Baylor was abandoned after Mulkey departed for LSU in April 2021: "Baylor is no longer among the sport's upper tier, another structure abandoned and left to wither." Mulkey had led the Bears to national titles in 2005, 2012 and 2019.

When asked for her thoughts about the story, Collen said:

"I'm not afraid to say I was really offended by the article that came out. I didn't read any of it. Don't know what happened, but nothing's withering in Waco."

Collen said that the Bears (26-8) are a top-tier team. Baylor reached the Sweet 16 before as a No. 5 seed in its region before falling 74-70 to No. 1 seed USC on Saturday. She also welcomed The Post reporter to write an article on Baylor.

Nicki Collen is successfully filling Kim Mulkey's shoes at Baylor

Nicki Collen is doing a good job as Kim Mulkey's successor at Baylor

In 2021, Nicki Collen was about to begin her fourth season as the coach of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream. According to Texas Monthly, she and her family loved living in Georgia but was interested in the coaching position at Baylor.

"I just felt like it was time to listen, see what they were looking for," Collen said.

She met with the search committee and Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades and described how her approach differed from most people's:

"I'm sure a lot of people came in with really fancy, glossy presentation. I showed up with some film broken down and a week's worth of practice plans printed out," recalled Collen. "I think the best way to show who you are is just talk to them, answer their questions, talk about your philosophies."

The search committee and Rhoades were impressed by Collen's basketball IQ. During the interview, Rhoades and committee members realized they had found the ideal replacement for Kim Mulkey, one of the most celebrated coaches in women's basketball.

During Collen's three-year tenure in Waco, the Bears have won 20 or more games and secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament, winning at least one game, every year. Baylor is 74-28 under Collen, winning the Big 12 in her first season.

Following Mulkey is a challenging assignment.

Mulkey, who is in the Naismith Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, led Baylor to a 632-104 mark, with three national titles, another Final Four appearance and six more Elite Eight appearances in 21 seasons. The Bears also won 12 regular-season and 11 tournament titles in the Big 12. She was the Big 12 Coach of the Year seven times and the national coach of the year three times in that span.

At LSU, Mulkey has taken a program that had fallen on hard times to unprecedented success.

After five straight Final Four appearances from 2004-08, LSU hadn't won an NCAA Tournament game in seven years, making only three appearances, before Mulkey's arrival. She has led the Tigers to a 91-13 mark, winning at least one NCAA Tournament game all three years as well as achieving the school's first national title last season and getting the Tigers into the Elite Eight this season.