Breaking: LSU Tigers Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey Stuns College Football World, Rejects Jaw-Dropping $7.5 Million NIL Offer from Georgia, Notre Dame to Remain with LSU Tigers: ‘I Have No Plans Beyond Being LSU’s Championship’

In a move that sent shockwaves through both the women’s basketball and college football worlds, legendary LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey has turned down a staggering $7.5 million NIL-like offer—reportedly funded through booster collectives at both Georgia and Notre Dame. Instead, the fiery, championship-driven coach reaffirmed her commitment to Baton Rouge, delivering a statement that resonates far beyond the hardwood.

“I have no plans beyond being LSU’s championship,” Mulkey declared. “This is my home. My players are my family. And my job is not done.”

The offers, which insiders say were structured similarly to NIL deals increasingly offered to star coaches in the name, image, and likeness era, represented a new frontier in collegiate athletics. These were not offers to players, but to a coach—and not just any coach, but the most powerful woman in college sports.

The Unthinkable Offer

According to multiple sources with knowledge of the negotiations, Georgia’s booster-backed collective initiated the pursuit of Mulkey following LSU’s second Final Four appearance in three seasons. Just weeks later, Notre Dame’s backers countered with an even more lucrative, incentive-laden proposal that would have made her the highest-paid coach in women’s college basketball history—by far.

But in a stunning twist, Mulkey said no.

This wasn’t about money. This wasn’t about prestige or a shiny new facility. This was about loyalty. Legacy. And unfinished business.

“LSU or Nothing”

Kim Mulkey, already one of the most accomplished coaches in sports, made her stance clear during a fiery press conference in Baton Rouge. Flanked by LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward and several current players, Mulkey was emotional, animated, and unapologetically blunt.

“You don’t walk away from something you love just because someone waves a check in your face. You don’t abandon your family. I came here to bring championships to LSU, and I haven’t brought home enough yet.”

She paused before delivering the line that instantly lit up social media:

“I don’t coach for contracts. I coach for championships.”

Mulkey, who led LSU to a national championship in 2023 and back to the Final Four in 2025, has rapidly rebuilt the program into a perennial powerhouse. Her presence in Baton Rouge has not only transformed the women’s team into a juggernaut but reignited university-wide pride across multiple sports.

The NIL Storm Reaches Coaching

The implications of the attempted NIL-style offers to Mulkey are massive. For the first time in the NIL era, booster collectives—typically focused on luring or retaining elite athletes—turned their financial firepower toward poaching coaches.

Georgia reportedly offered Mulkey $3.5 million annually in base salary, with an additional $4 million in performance and media-based bonuses. Notre Dame, one of the sport’s bluebloods, upped the ante with a five-year, $7.5 million per year deal. But even with the unprecedented offers, they underestimated the intensity of Mulkey’s loyalty to LSU.

As one high-ranking SEC administrator put it:

“Kim Mulkey just changed the game again. But this time, it wasn’t on the court.”

Why Georgia and Notre Dame Came Calling

Both Georgia and Notre Dame are historically respected women’s basketball programs, but neither has been able to break through to consistent Final Four success in recent years. Georgia has lagged behind South Carolina in the SEC, and Notre Dame—despite its storied legacy—is still looking to reclaim the dominance it enjoyed under Muffet McGraw.

Insiders say both schools saw Mulkey as a transformational figure. A proven winner with national appeal. A coach who could restore instant credibility, spark recruiting momentum, and energize donors.

But for Mulkey, the pitch was irrelevant.

“I didn’t come here for a pit stop,” she said of LSU. “I came here to build a dynasty. That’s still the plan.”

Reaction From Across the Country

The reaction was immediate, emotional, and divided.

LSU fans erupted with joy. “Kim Forever” began trending on X (formerly Twitter). Former Tigers star Angel Reese reposted Mulkey’s quote with three purple heart emojis. LSU football coach Brian Kelly chimed in: “One team. One mission. Kim’s built different.”

Notre Dame fans, meanwhile, expressed equal parts admiration and frustration. “Can’t blame her,” one fan wrote on a Notre Dame message board. “She belongs to Baton Rouge now.”

Georgia’s backers were more direct. “We threw the kitchen sink, and she still told us no,” one Bulldogs booster said anonymously. “She’s worth every penny. But I guess no amount of money could’ve pulled her out of the bayou.”

LSU’s Counter Move: A Monumental Extension

LSU wasn’t caught flat-footed. Shortly after rejecting the outside offers, Mulkey signed a new extension with LSU—one that insiders describe as “massive” but still modest compared to the offers she turned down.

The deal reportedly includes $4.2 million per year through 2033, increased control over team operations, and enhanced NIL resources for her players. More importantly, it reaffirms Mulkey’s role as the face of LSU Athletics—possibly even more so than any football coach in school history.

“Kim Mulkey is LSU,” AD Scott Woodward said in a statement. “She represents everything this university stands for—excellence, toughness, pride, and loyalty.”

A New Standard for Loyalty

In an era where loyalty is often seen as outdated, Mulkey’s decision to stay at LSU resonates as a bold counter to the status quo. She could’ve left. She could’ve set a new financial benchmark for coaches in women’s sports. But instead, she stayed the course—sending a clear message about what matters most to her.

“I never chased money,” she told reporters. “I chase greatness. And that chase is far from over.”

Her players clearly felt the impact. Rising star Flau’Jae Johnson posted a video hugging Mulkey in the locker room, captioned: “That’s OUR coach. Forever LSU.”

What This Means for Women’s College Basketball

This isn’t just a win for LSU. It’s a moment of reckoning for the entire sport.

Kim Mulkey didn’t just resist the pull of greener pastures—she reasserted the power of culture, community, and competitive legacy. Her decision will likely have ripple effects throughout the women’s basketball landscape. Recruits will take notice. So will rival coaches.

And perhaps most importantly, so will schools tempted to chase quick-fix success through massive offers.

“You can’t buy culture,” said ESPN analyst Andraya Carter. “And Kim Mulkey is culture.”

The Road Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

The 2025-26 LSU team is already shaping up to be one of Mulkey’s best. Anchored by Johnson and a crop of high-impact transfers, the Tigers are expected to enter the season ranked No. 1.

Mulkey’s decision provides the kind of stability that championship programs thrive on. Players know she’s not leaving. Recruits can buy into her vision. And fans can believe—again—that something special is happening in Baton Rouge.

When asked about her long-term goals, Mulkey kept it simple:

“One more championship. Then another. Then another.”

And don’t expect her to stop anytime soon. At 62, Mulkey remains as energized as ever, with a fire that seems to burn brighter with each passing year. Whether it’s on the court or at the podium, she commands the room—and now, she controls her own legacy.

Final Word

Kim Mulkey didn’t just say no to a $7.5 million offer. She said yes to something more powerful: purpose. Loyalty. Identity.

In doing so, she reminded the sports world that not every decision is about dollars. Some are about doing what feels right. What is right.

“I’m not done yet,” she said with a wink. “And neither is LSU.”