The victory lap continues for the LSU women’s basketball team.
More than 1,000 fans crowded into the ballroom at Baton Rouge’s Crowne Plaza Hotel Wednesday night, decked out in sparkles, purple and gold, ready to pile the love on the national champion team and coaches. The evening included a variety of speeches with a live and silent auction.
More than 1,000 supporters attended the LSU Women’s Basketball Appreciation Banquet on April 12, 2023, at Baton Rouge’s Crowne Plaza Hotel.
It was the biggest crowd the annual event has ever hosted, and long-time fans remember a time in the not-so-distant past when there weren’t that many fans in the stands to see the team play.
On Wednesday evening, the whole team and coaching staff were on hand to thank the many people involved in their amazing season — from the bus driver to the academic advisors to media specialists to the all-male practice team and the fans. There were many to thank and much to celebrate.
When associate head coach Bob Starkey spoke, he recalled a day last August when he was settling back into life at LSU when head coach Kim Mulkey’s mom came into his new office to say hello. Starkey was showing her his case of championship rings, including a collection of Final Four rings and an SEC championship ring.
Auction items at the LSU 2023 Women’s Basketball Appreciation Banquet included a variety of Kim Mulkey-autographed items.
From the podium, Starkey recalled his conversation with Mulkey’s mother, Dru Mulkey, of Hammond.
“I don’t have that one special ring,” he said.
“Awww, baby, we’re gone get you one of those,” she said.
Her daughter and the team delivered — ahead of schedule. The NCAA National Champion ring will soon find its place in Starkey’s display case, along with another one to add to Kim Mulkey’s 35 championship rings, from high school on up.
At the 2023 LSU Women’s Basketball Appreciation Banquet, LSU President William Tate IV spoke with many women’s basketball fans, including Traci Moreau.
LSU William Tate IV also spoke at the event — and his wife, Kim Cash Tate, delivered the invocation. The Tates traveled with the team and attended games throughout the season, developing relationships with the coaches and players along the way. In his speech, Pres. Tate compared the team to David in the Old Testament.
“South Carolina thought they had been anointed, but God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes he works with people and sometimes he works with angels,” he said as he turned around to exchange glances with superstar Angel Reese.
Leave a Reply