Among the top five women’s college basketball coaches with the most NCAA championships, three Geno Auriemma (12 titles at UConn), Kim Mulkey (four titles at Baylor and LSU), and Dawn Staley (three titles at South Carolina) are still coaching. Remarkably, all three have claimed national championships in the last three seasons, with Auriemma being the most recent.
Their continued success in such a competitive environment, where they often face off during the NCAA tournament, underscores the strength of the programs they’ve built. In an April 23 interview on Jacques Talk, Kim Mulkey addressed the unfair criticism coaches sometimes face during title droughts, despite how challenging it is to win at the highest level.
“Geno Auriemma just won again. Five years ago, people were calling him washed up, saying he should retire. It took him nine years to get this latest championship,” Mulkey said. “You can’t just churn out titles. Everything has to align no injuries, everyone performing well. Winning it all is incredibly hard.”
She went on to reflect on her own journey: “You never really know if you’ll win even one championship, let alone multiple. I’ve been fortunate. But I always keep things in perspective.”
"Geno Auriemma just won another one. Five years ago they said he's washed up and needs to retire."
@LSUwbkb @KimMulkey on how hard it is to win national championships.
"Everything has to go perfect."
Full interview – https://t.co/dQSEci8LK6 #LSU @WAFB pic.twitter.com/B4e8G53tzV
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) May 1, 2025
With standout talent like MiLaysia Fulwiley now on her roster, Mulkey has reason to be optimistic as she eyes a potential fifth NCAA title.
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