Baylor’s Nicki Collen ‘offended’ by Washington Post Kim Mulkey article

Kim Mulkey isn’t the only one to dispute Kent Babb’s story about her, although for another coach it was for a slightly different reason.

While Mulkey went on the offensive over what she tried to call a “hit piece,” Baylor coach Nicki Collen took issue with a specific story line and the way she described her program after Mulkey left before the 2021-22 season to take over at LSU.

In the Washington Post article, Babb described Baylor as “no longer part of the sport’s upper echelon, another abandoned and abandoned structure” after Mulkey’s departure.

After Saturday’s Sweet 16 loss to USC, Collen expressed dismay at the line, while admitting she hadn’t actually read the story.

“I’m not afraid to say that I was really offended by the article that was published,” she told reporters at her post-match press conference. “I don’t know what happened, I haven’t read the article, but nothing is dying in Waco and we’re going to do it our way. And it’s going to be just as good, but nothing withers.

“And we’re not a top team and you can’t say we are. You can’t get to the Sweet 16 and take a No. 1 seed all the way in a one-possession game and say everything withers in Waco. …There are a lot of flowers. I’m going to say don’t wither; there are things flourishing in Waco. If he wants to come and do a paper and come to Waco and write about it next year, he’s welcome to do so.

Baylor has continued to compete at a high level since Mulkey’s departure and Collen has coached the program to a 74-28 record in his three years at the helm.

And Baylor — including this season — has made and won at least one NCAA Tournament game every season during Collen’s tenure.