How LSU Women's Basketball Became a National Championship Contender This Season

I remember watching LSU's season opener against Bellarmine back in November, thinking this team had something special brewing. The way they moved the ball with such fluidity, the defensive intensity from the opening tip—it felt different from previous seasons. Little did I know I was witnessing the early stages of what would become one of the most remarkable turnarounds in women's college basketball this year. Having followed women's basketball for over a decade, I've seen plenty of promising teams fizzle out, but LSU's journey this season has been something entirely different. They've managed to do what many programs struggle with—not just building a competitive team, but exorcising the demons of past shortcomings, much like how the University of the Philippines basketball program famously broke their long-standing championship drought.

The transformation really began with Coach Kim Mulkey's arrival in Baton Rouge. When she took over in April 2021, the program was coming off a 9-13 season and hadn't made a deep tournament run in years. I've always admired Mulkey's coaching style—she brings this incredible intensity combined with strategic brilliance that just transforms programs. In her first season, she guided the Tigers to a 26-6 record, which was impressive enough, but this year's squad has taken it to another level entirely. The way she's integrated new talent with returning players reminds me of watching master chefs combine ingredients—everything just works together seamlessly. What's particularly struck me is how she's addressed the team's historical weaknesses, especially in late-game situations where LSU teams of the past might have folded.

Looking at the roster construction, the addition of Angel Reese has been nothing short of revolutionary. The sophomore transfer from Maryland has averaged 23.4 points and 15.7 rebounds per game—numbers that just jump off the stat sheet. But what the stats don't show is how her presence has lifted everyone else's game. I've noticed that when Reese dominates the paint, it opens up so much space for shooters like Alexis Morris, who's been knocking down threes at a 38% clip. The chemistry between these players has developed faster than anyone expected, and I think that's a testament to both the coaching staff and the players' willingness to buy into the system.

What really separates this LSU team from previous iterations is their mental toughness. Earlier in the season, when they faced Tennessee in a tough road game, they fell behind by 12 points in the third quarter. The old LSU might have crumbled, but this team fought back with a 15-2 run that completely shifted the momentum. I remember watching that game and thinking—this is a team that believes in themselves in a way we haven't seen in years. They've developed what I like to call "championship habits"—the little things like communicating on defense, making the extra pass, and maintaining composure during scoring droughts. These might sound like clichés, but when you watch them play, you can see these principles in action every single possession.

The defensive improvement has been particularly striking. Last season, LSU allowed opponents to shoot 41% from the field—this year, that number has dropped to 37.2%. They're generating 4.3 more turnovers per game than last season, and their transition defense has improved dramatically. From my perspective, this defensive transformation has been the real key to their championship aspirations. In tournament play, defense travels, and LSU has shown they can get stops when it matters most.

Offensively, they've developed this beautiful balance between inside dominance and perimeter shooting that makes them incredibly difficult to defend. When they're clicking, like they were against Georgia last month when they put up 92 points, they look virtually unstoppable. The ball movement is crisp, players are cutting with purpose, and everyone seems to know their role perfectly. I particularly love watching their set plays after timeouts—Mulkey's schemes are works of art, and the execution has been nearly flawless throughout the season.

As we approach tournament time, I genuinely believe LSU has what it takes to make a deep run. Their combination of elite talent, experienced coaching, and that newfound mental toughness makes them dangerous in a way they haven't been in recent memory. They've managed to build something special while simultaneously shedding the weight of past disappointments—much like how the University of the Philippines program famously broke their own curse and captured that historic championship. There's a certain magic to teams that learn how to win, and this LSU squad has certainly figured that out. The way they've come together this season gives me confidence that they can compete with anyone in the country, and I wouldn't be surprised to see them playing deep into March.