Every great athlete has a story beyond the game that shapes their journey both on and off the court. For LSU women’s basketball forward Amani Bartlett, that story includes the guidance of her head coach, Kim Mulkey. As she reflected on her time at LSU, Bartlett shared her heartfelt perspective on Mulkey’s influence.
Amani Bartlett Opens Up About Kim Mulkey’s Impact on Her LSU Career
For nearly four years, Bartlett has been a dedicated member of the LSU women’s basketball program. Her journey has been marked by growth, both as a player and as an individual, something she credits in large part to Mulkey.
In a recent appearance on “JACQUES TALK,” Bartlett detailed the profound impact Mulkey has had on her life. She explained why she chose to stay at LSU under the legendary coach.
It’s a lot of misinformation & flat out lies about Kim Mulkey on this app. But none of that matters as long as her players have these kind of stories & memories. Amani is a class act & I wish her the world!! Always a Tiger!! 💜💛🐯 pic.twitter.com/oJQrTsS2c1
— Big Chief Tiger!! (@BigChiefTiger) March 2, 2025
The social media platform X (formerly Twitter) was abuzz when Big Chief Tiger posted a snippet of Bartlett’s interview. In the clip, Bartlett responded to a frequently asked question regarding her decision to remain at LSU with Mulkey at the helm.
“A lot of people have that question of why did I stay with Coach Mulkey. And I think the biggest thing is because she took care of me. Like even in the hard times, when I wasn’t playing, or I honestly felt some type of way about not getting on the court, she helped me so much off the court, but also to grow as a woman.”
Bartlett further elaborated on how Mulkey became a mother figure to her, adding, “Like, the woman that I am, she’s been that mother away from home. Like, I can’t even explain how many times that woman has done something. I’m just like, dang, like, she didn’t have to do this for me.”
One of the most poignant moments in Bartlett’s interview came when she shared a deeply personal story about a family crisis during the season. She recalled how Mulkey’s response went beyond what most coaches would do, demonstrating an unmatched level of care for her players.
“Like, I’ll just give y’all a little insight. Like, there was, I had a family issue going on at home where something major happened to one of my family members. Got in an accident, was rushed to the hospital, whatever. It was the middle of the season. And I literally walked outside of the PMAC and was boo-hoo crying, boo-hoo crying.
“She was the first person to pick up the phone and call and say, go, go home, go home. And so, like, just little things like that is just like, that’s bigger than basketball to me. It’s like, it’s life.”
Bartlett emphasized that moments like these are what define her relationship with Mulkey.
“You’re going to help me in life. And yes, like, basketball is my dream and all of that, but like, at the end of the day, the basketball is going to stop bouncing. And so, I feel like she’s instilled, like, instilled those core values and memories and lessons into me to where I feel like I’ll be safe outside of this.”
LSU Now Prepares for a Pivotal SEC Matchup
As Bartlett reflected on her journey, LSU continued preparations for a key SEC showdown against the Ole Miss Rebels at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Ranked No. 7 in the country, the Tigers looked to cap off their regular season on a high note with a dominant performance on Senior Day.
The program planned to honor four senior players at halftime: Bartlett, Shayeann Day-Wilson, Aneesah Morrow, and Last-Tear Poa.
KEEP READING: Kim Mulkey Salary, Contract, and Net Worth
Both Bartlett and Poa were members of LSU’s 2023 national championship team, a feat that solidified their place in program history.
Notably, Bartlett also held the distinction of being the first player to spend all four seasons under Mulkey, making her Senior Day particularly meaningful.
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