LSU women’s basketball head coach Kim Mulkey has reloaded her roster in hopes of fulfilling a promise she made to the program three years ago.

Entering the 2024-25 campaign, the Tigers lost two starters from last year’s squad in forward Angel Reese and guard Hailey Van Lith. It hasn’t taken long, however, for Mulkey to find reinforcements.

Earlier this week, Sacred Heart Academy guard ZaKiyah Johnson – the No. 13 ranked player in the 2024 recruiting class – officially committed to LSU after being pursued by multiple top programs across the nation. Just days later, Mulkey one-upped herself by landing combo player Grace Knox, who ranks as the No. 6 recruit in the 2025 class.

The Tigers didn’t stop there, additionally locking down No. 12 ranked guard Divine Bourrage and No. 30 ranked guard Isabella Hines. As of writing, LSU boasts four five-star commits in the 2025 class – giving them the top-ranked recruiting class for the second time in three years.

Entering play Thursday, LSU ranks seventh in the nation – trailing only South Carolina, UConn, USC, Texas, UCLA and Notre Dame. With an influx of raw, young talent now at Mulkey’s disposal, the Tigers are expected to be a Championship contender for years to come.

Upon accepting the LSU head coaching position back in April of 2021, Mulkey swore to instill a winning culture in Baton Rouge. Prior to joining the Tigers, she commanded Baylor to three titles in 2005, 2012, and 2019.

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Kim Mulkey has turned to promising recruits to replace Angel Reese

Kim Mulkey has turned to promising recruits to replace Angel Reese ( 

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While speaking during the introductory press conference, Mulkey told her players to direct their attention to the five Women’s Final Four banners that were hanging overhead in the rafters at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. “Nowhere on there does it say ‘national champion,'” she said. “That’s what I came here to do.

“I don’t want you to be misled that I can take a team and overnight play for championships,” Mulkey later added. “But I can take a team and make them better each day. As we work with them, we will be able to identify strengths and weaknesses, what we need. Then head out and go get the best talent we can to represent LSU.”

Sure enough, LSU won its first title under Mulkey just two years into her tenure, defeating star guard Caitlin Clark and Iowa, 102-85, in April of 2023. Now with a fully revamped roster, it may not be long until the Tigers finish atop the NCAA rankings yet again.

Mulkey’s hunger for another championship has already appeared to rub off on many of her new players. Addressing her decision to join LSU over others, Johnson said: “I picked LSU for their culture. 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.”