LSU to Honor Kim Mulkey with $987.2 Million Stadium Project After Historic Success

BATON ROUGE, La. — In a groundbreaking move that will forever alter the landscape of women’s college sports, Louisiana State University has officially announced plans for a $987.2 million stadium project dedicated to Kim Mulkey, head coach of the LSU women’s basketball team.

The project — unprecedented in scope, ambition, and symbolism — honors Mulkey’s meteoric impact since arriving in Baton Rouge in 2021. In just four seasons, she has delivered a national championship, reached 600 career wins faster than any coach in Division I history, and helped galvanize a nationwide movement around women’s basketball.

Now, LSU is building a monument worthy of that legacy — a stadium that will not only bear her name but redefine the way women’s sports are celebrated in the United States.

A Vision Realized: A Stadium for a Legacy

The stadium — tentatively named Kim Mulkey Court at Mulkey Arena — will become the largest women’s basketball-dedicated venue in the country, with a projected capacity of 22,400 seats, state-of-the-art amenities, and a design tailored to both fans and players.

Stadium Highlights Include:

• 360-degree LED video board
• Luxury skyboxes and club seating for donors
• A museum and interactive exhibit chronicling Mulkey’s coaching career
• Cutting-edge training, rehab, and wellness facilities
• Dedicated NIL marketing offices and media suites
• Community access zones for youth sports and camps
• Statue Plaza: Featuring sculptures of legendary LSU athletes, including Mulkey herself

LSU President William F. Tate IV called it “the boldest investment in women’s athletics in collegiate history,” during the press conference Monday.

“This is about honoring greatness, yes — but it’s also about elevating women’s sports to where they belong. Coach Mulkey changed LSU forever. This is our way of saying thank you — and let’s keep going.”

Kim Mulkey: The Architect of a Dynasty

Mulkey’s track record is nothing short of extraordinary.

She joined LSU in 2021 after a legendary run at Baylor, where she won three national championships. Within two seasons in Baton Rouge, she led LSU to a national title in 2023, delivering the program’s first-ever NCAA championship.

This past season, she became the fastest coach in Division I men’s or women’s history to reach 600 wins, doing so in just 700 games — a feat that stunned the basketball world and affirmed her place among the coaching elite.

Her fiery leadership, unapologetic personality, and recruiting prowess turned LSU into a cultural phenomenon, packing the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to capacity and attracting a global spotlight during LSU’s historic title run.

A Cultural and Economic Powerhouse

Mulkey’s impact has not only been athletic but economic. Since her arrival:

• LSU women’s basketball revenue has increased by over 250%
• NIL deals involving LSU women’s athletes have exploded, totaling over $8 million in the 2023–24 season alone
• Merchandise sales for the team outpaced even LSU football in Q2 of 2023
• TV ratings for LSU games routinely broke records, especially during March Madness

That success prompted LSU donors and boosters — including some of Louisiana’s most influential business leaders — to rally behind the stadium proposal. Nearly 60% of the funding is coming from private donations, with the rest financed through university partnerships, long-term revenue sharing, and state infrastructure grants.

Mulkey Responds to the Honor

An emotional Kim Mulkey took the podium during the announcement ceremony, surrounded by her current and former players.

“When I came to LSU, I came home. But I never dreamed something like this could happen — not for me, but for women’s basketball. This is bigger than me. This is for every little girl who believed her dream was worth investing in.”

Mulkey, a native of Tickfaw, Louisiana, has always spoken about her deep personal ties to the state. The stadium announcement marks another chapter in that homecoming story — one in which she has become as revered in Baton Rouge as any coach who’s ever worn purple and gold.

Reactions Across the Sports World

News of the project sent shockwaves through the sports world. Social media exploded with reactions from athletes, analysts, and fans — many praising LSU’s boldness, and others noting the broader implications for gender equity in athletics.

Angel Reese, former LSU star and 2023 Final Four Most Outstanding Player: “Coach Mulkey changed my life. Now she’s changing the game for every future baller. LEGEND. 💜💛”

Candace Parker, WNBA champion and analyst: “This is what investment looks like. And it’s about time.”

Stephen A. Smith, ESPN: “Y’all see this? LSU just said women’s basketball ain’t a side show. It IS the show.”

Even NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, an LSU alum, chimed in: “Y’all thought the PMAC was wild? Wait till you see Mulkey Arena. She earned every inch of that court.”

Symbolism Beyond Basketball

While the stadium serves as a monument to Mulkey’s coaching success, it also represents a broader cultural shift in college athletics — one that reflects the surging popularity and economic potential of women’s sports.

With media deals expanding, NIL exploding, and viewership soaring, this project sends a clear message: women’s basketball is not just viable — it’s dominant.

LSU athletic director Scott Woodward emphasized that point.

“This is a moment in history. We’re not just catching up — we’re leading.”

The stadium is also designed with inclusion and accessibility in mind, with dedicated spaces for women’s youth development, community partnerships, and Title IX education.

The Legacy Exhibit: A Living Museum

One of the stadium’s standout features will be the Kim Mulkey Legacy Exhibit — a full-scale interactive museum chronicling not only Mulkey’s coaching journey but the history of women’s basketball at LSU and nationally.

The exhibit will feature:

• Game-worn jerseys from key players like Angel Reese, Alexis Morris, and Flau’Jae Johnson
• VR headsets offering “court-level” experiences from past championship games
• An audio-visual walkthrough of Mulkey’s historic 600th win
• Archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and holographic highlights

“It’s going to be a place where past, present, and future collide,” said project architect Dana Franklin. “Visitors will leave not just knowing who Kim Mulkey is — but what she’s built.”

Building for the Future: A Recruiting Powerhouse

Beyond the symbolic power of the stadium, its strategic value in recruiting is enormous. LSU is already a top destination for elite talent — but this facility positions the program to dominate the landscape for years to come.

Recruits now see a commitment that rivals, and in many cases exceeds, what top men’s programs offer. Add that to Mulkey’s ability to develop players and win championships, and LSU becomes a gravitational force in the recruiting universe.

Already, top high school stars are reacting to the news:

“LSU just became every girl’s dream school,” tweeted 2026 No. 1 prospect Kelsey Harmon.

Timeline and Construction

The stadium project is scheduled to break ground in early 2026, with a target completion date in late 2028.

The current Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) will continue to host games during construction, but there are plans to convert parts of the PMAC into a performance and development center once Mulkey Arena is completed.

Architects from Populous, the same firm behind major stadiums like Yankee Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, are leading the design. Their goal: blend functionality with bold visual storytelling.

“We want people to walk in and feel Kim Mulkey’s spirit everywhere — bold, fearless, unapologetic,” said Franklin.

Challenges and Debate

While the response has been overwhelmingly positive, not everyone is convinced. Some faculty and community members have voiced concerns about the nearly billion-dollar price tag, especially amid rising tuition and housing costs.

LSU officials have responded with transparency, emphasizing that the stadium will generate long-term revenue, boost local economic development, and is largely privately funded.

Still, the debate reflects a familiar tension in college athletics: how to balance sports investment with broader academic and student needs.

Mulkey’s Endgame?

Speculation is already swirling about whether this stadium — and the growing accolades — signal Mulkey’s eventual retirement. At 62, she shows no signs of slowing down, but some wonder whether this project might serve as a kind of capstone.

She addressed that directly:

“I’ve got more in the tank. This is not a goodbye — it’s a promise. I’m here to win more titles, build more dreams, and fill that stadium night after night.”

Final Word: The Kim Mulkey Era, Immortalized

In a world where women’s sports have often played second fiddle, LSU just set a new standard. By investing nearly a billion dollars in a stadium dedicated to one of the greatest coaches of all time, the university isn’t just celebrating Kim Mulkey — it’s making a statement about what matters in college athletics.

From the rural roots of Tickfaw to the national championship podium in Dallas to a stadium bearing her name, Kim Mulkey’s journey is now enshrined in something far more enduring than trophies:

Legacy.

And LSU, it seems, is just getting started.