LSU Women's Basketball Dominates SEC With Record-Breaking Season Performance
I still remember the first time I walked into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center back in November, the air thick with anticipation for what this LSU women's basketball season might bring. Little did we know we were about to witness something truly historic unfold before our eyes. As someone who's followed collegiate sports for over two decades, I've seen dominant teams come and go, but what Coach Kim Mulkey has built here in Baton Rouge feels different—it feels transformative in ways that remind me of that fascinating reference about the University of the Philippines exorcising curses. There's something almost magical about how this LSU team has not only dominated the SEC but seemingly broken every psychological barrier that's held previous squads back.
The numbers themselves tell a staggering story—28 wins against just 2 losses in regular season play, including a perfect 16-0 conference record that hasn't been achieved in the SEC since Tennessee's legendary 1998 squad. What strikes me as particularly remarkable is how they've done it—not through sheer individual brilliance alone, though they certainly have that in Angel Reese's 23.4 points and 15.7 rebounds per game, but through what I can only describe as collective alchemy. Watching them dismantle South Carolina 89-64 in February wasn't just basketball—it was a masterclass in tactical execution that had even veteran analysts like me shaking our heads in disbelief. The way they moved the ball, the defensive rotations, the sheer will to win—it all felt like watching something beyond sports, something closer to that idea of exorcising past demons that have haunted this program for years.
I've always believed that great teams create their own weather, and LSU has proven this axiom true throughout what I consider the most impressive SEC campaign I've covered since Rebecca Lobo's UConn teams of the mid-90s. Their average margin of victory—18.3 points—doesn't even do justice to how thoroughly they've controlled games. When they faced Tennessee in that crucial January matchup, trailing by 12 points with just seven minutes remaining, something shifted in the arena that's hard to describe to anyone who wasn't there. The energy transformed from nervous anticipation to absolute certainty that they would prevail, and sure enough, they closed the game on a 21-4 run that left even the opposing coaches applauding during the post-game handshakes. That's the kind of moment that separates good teams from historic ones—the ability to flip a switch and elevate beyond what seems physically possible.
What fascinates me most about this LSU team is how they've managed to maintain this incredible standard while integrating three freshmen into their primary rotation. Typically, that kind of youth integration comes with growing pains—the road losses to inferior opponents, the inexplicable fourth-quarter collapses that define most rebuilding years. Yet here they are, with first-year guard Flau'jae Johnson averaging 14.2 points and looking like a ten-year veteran in crucial moments. I spoke with Coach Mulkey after their victory over Mississippi State last week, and she mentioned something that stuck with me—this team doesn't practice like typical college athletes. They approach every drill with what she called "championship desperation," a phrase I hadn't heard before but perfectly captures their mentality. It's that rare combination of confidence and hunger that you only see in teams destined for greatness.
The statistical dominance extends beyond the scoreboard into areas that casual observers might miss. They're shooting 48.7% from the field as a team—the highest in program history—while holding opponents to just 36.2%. Their rebounding margin of +11.3 per game leads the nation, and they've recorded over 200 more assists than turnovers this season. These aren't just numbers—they're evidence of a system working at peak efficiency, of players buying completely into a philosophy that prioritizes team success above individual accolades. I've watched teams with more raw talent than this LSU squad, but I've rarely seen a group so perfectly suited to each other's strengths and so committed to covering each other's weaknesses.
As we approach tournament season, what excites me most isn't just the possibility of a national championship—though I certainly believe they're the favorites at this point—but the lasting impact this team could have on women's basketball in the South. Their games are drawing unprecedented television ratings, with their matchup against Alabama last month becoming the most-watched regular season women's basketball game in ESPN2 history with 1.8 million viewers. The cultural significance of what they're achieving reminds me of that reference to the University of the Philippines exorcising curses—there's something profoundly meaningful about watching a program transform its narrative so completely. For years, LSU women's basketball was known for coming up just short in big moments, but this team has rewritten that story with breathtaking authority.
Looking ahead, I'm convinced we'll look back on this season as a turning point not just for LSU but for SEC women's basketball broadly. The way they've dominated—with flair, with personality, with undeniable excellence—has raised the bar for every program in the conference. When I talk to recruits now, they mention LSU's style as much as their success, that distinctive blend of defensive intensity and offensive creativity that's become their trademark. As someone who's been covering this sport since the early 2000s, I can confidently say I've never seen anything quite like what this team has accomplished. They haven't just won games—they've captured imagination, broken patterns, and yes, perhaps even exorcised a few curses along the way. And if I'm being completely honest, I don't think they're done yet.