LSU’s women’s basketball program goes from strength to strength, with head coach Kim Mulkey landing two more five-star recruits for the 2025 season.
The Tigers had already secured five-star commitments from No. 12 prospect Davine Bourrage and 30th-ranked talent Isabella Hayes, and the roster for next season has been boosted further by ZaKiyah Johnson and Grace Knox – the No. 13 and No. 6 recruits in the 2025 class respectively.
Johnson, a highly-coveted guard from Sacred Heart Academy, and 6ft 2in wing Knox are sure to make a big impact on the program next year, and both attributed their decisions to join LSU to Mulkey’s coaching.
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“I feel like Kim Mulkey will push me to a different level,” Knox told On3. “She’s controversial to some people, but the way she coaches, I’m okay with that. It’s something that I feel will actually help me, being blunt and straightforward and telling me what I need to work on pushes me.“
Her feelings were echoed by Johnson. “I picked LSU for their culture,” she told ESPN, announcing her decision to commit to LSU.
“I know Coach Mulkey and her players know what it takes to be on the big stage and win a championship, and I want to compete with players I hadn’t seen normally, living here in Kentucky my whole life. Now it’s time to explore and I love how they made it still feel like home.”
Mulkey’s ability to recruit is unmatched (
Getty)
LSU produced a disappointing campaign by their high standards last season, going 31-6 and being eliminated in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The departure of superstar forward Angel Reese to the WNBA left a glaring void in Mulkey’s team.
But the No. 7 Tigers made an impressive start to the new season on Tuesday, routing Eastern Kentucky 95-44 at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. And it seems the program is built for success in the long term given Mulkey’s abilities as a recruiter, fending off numerous rival schools to land commitments a collection of the top high school talents in the nation.
Mulkey, 62, spent 20 years in charge of Baylor, overseeing an era of sustained success with three national championship titles. She took charge of LSU in 2021 when the program was in the doldrums, going 9-13 in the COVID-hit 2020 season.
Her abilities as a coach and a recruiter made an instant impact, going 26-6 in 2021/22 before securing the first national championship in program history the following season. Now in her fourth season in charge, those skills continue to be invaluable, building a highly competitive roster not only for this season but the years ahead.
The Tigers return to action on Friday evening, hosting Northwestern State (1-0) in Baton Rouge.
