DALLAS -- When Kim Mulkey stunned the women's college basketball world to take the LSU job, there never really seemed to be a question that at some point, she would lead the Tigers to a national championship.
But to do it two years into the job? As an underdog? With her team counted out at every turn? Against Player of the Year Caitlin Clark? Mulkey concedes that was never really in her plans.
Yet there she stood -- and hooted, and hollered, and stomped her feet, and yelled at the refs -- in the middle of the national title game Sunday afternoon, her gold and black sequined Tigers print pant suit shimmering under the arena lights, and, well, it obviously became the plan.