Kim Mulkey lauds NCAA legend for her Stanford influence even after retirement: "That entire staff is Tara Vanderveer's legacy"
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey commended Stanford's coaching staff after the unranked Cardinal challenged No. 5 LSU in the Tigers' 94-88 comeback victory during the ACC–SEC Challenge on Thursday night.
The Cardinal gained an early advantage at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, leading by as many as 15 points in the first quarter. LSU narrowed the gap to just two points by halftime, but Stanford rebuilt a nine-point lead in the third quarter.
With 40 seconds left in regulation, the Tigers trailed 78-72. A clutch three-pointer by Kailyn Gilbert and five critical points from Mikaylah Williams tied the game, sending it into overtime. LSU dominated the extra period with a 14-8 scoring burst.
During the post-game press conference, Mulkey acknowledged the visitors' impressive effort, despite their unranked status and a current 7-2 record.
"I don't know how they're not ranked, but that's for you guys to decide. Don't y'all get to vote on that stuff?" Mulkey asked reporters.
"I don't know who votes on rankings. Stanford is Stanford. Tara's not there anymore, but that entire staff is Tara VanDerveer's legacy. You got a couple of them that played for her, a couple of them that have been on her staff for years and years. What you saw tonight was Stanford. It's the Stanford of 10 years ago, and it'll be the Stanford of 10 years from now. What they do is just outstanding. It's almost positionless basketball," Mulkey further added.
This season marks Stanford's first without Tara VanDerveer, who retired after 38 years with the program (1986-2024). During her tenure, VanDerveer led the Cardinal to three NCAA championships (1990, 1992, 2021) and amassed the second-best coaching record in NCAA history at 1,216–271.
Last season, Stanford ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll, finished 30-6, and reached the Sweet Sixteen, powered by players like Cameron Brink and Kiki Iriafen. Now, Kate Paye takes over as head coach after 17 years as associate head coach, with Tempie Brown stepping into her previous role. The staff includes Katy Steding, Erica McCall, Heather Oesterle, and former Cardinal Jeanette Pohlen.
LSU Secures Overtime Victory Against Stanford
No. 5 LSU spent most of the game trailing Stanford but staged a remarkable comeback to erase a 15-point deficit and claim an overtime win, remaining unbeaten through 10 games.
Sophomore Mikaylah Williams emerged as the game's star, finishing with an impressive 32 points and nine rebounds, just shy of a double-double. Her clutch turnaround jumper with 4.3 seconds left forced overtime, where she contributed six points from two 3-pointers and two rebounds, sparking LSU's decisive 14-8 scoring run in the extra period.
Despite Stanford's strong performance, which included leading for three quarters and maintaining a 2-3 defensive zone, LSU stayed competitive by capitalizing on 15 Stanford turnovers for 14 points. The Tigers also took advantage of 15 fouls from the Cardinal, sinking 12 of 18 free throws.
LSU now looks to extend its unbeaten streak as they face Grambling at the Brookshire Grocery Arena on Sunday. Meanwhile, Stanford will regroup before visiting California on December 13, aiming for their first road victory of the season.