LSU’s First National Title Keeps Trophy in the SEC

DALLAS — Last week, LSU coach Kim Mulkey told reporters that the Southeastern Conference has been “disrespected all year.” 

But after the Tigers took down the Iowa Hawkeyes in a decisive 102-85 win at the American Airlines Center, the SEC can now boast championship streaks in FBS football and women’s basketball.

“We’ve had the trophy in our office for a year with South Carolina’s national championship,” SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey told Front Office Sports after the confetti fell. “So it’s nice that it’s found a home. To have multiple programs in our conference compete at this level…is really meaningful.” 

The championship is the first for LSU and the fourth for Mulkey. 

A Win For The Sport

LSU’s title ended a historic season for all of women’s college basketball. The Final Four semifinals were the most viewed on record, and the tournament drew more aggregate fans than any other in women’s NCAA history.

Still, the women’s media rights deal and the NCAA’s sponsorship agreement must be renegotiated to reflect the tournament’s growing value, according to a 2021 NCAA equity review. The next steps will be to “test the market on all this stuff,” NCAA President Charlie Baker told reporters before the game. 

“One media consultant’s opinion is not validation,” Sankey said, referring to the equity review. “I think what happened this weekend is actually validation.”