LSU vs. Texas: Mulkey’s Tigers Eye Signature Road Win in Top-5 Showdown
Thursday night in Austin won’t just be another game on the calendar - it’s a prime-time collision of two of the nation’s elite programs, and LSU has a golden opportunity to shake up the women’s college basketball landscape once again.
Kim Mulkey’s fifth-ranked Tigers head into the Moody Center looking to double down on a statement they already made once this season - that they can beat anyone, anywhere. Standing in their way? The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns, a team still simmering after LSU handed them their first loss of the season just a few weeks ago.
That January 11 meeting in Baton Rouge was a turning point. Texas came in undefeated at 18-0 and left with a 70-65 loss - their first blemish of the year. Now, the rematch shifts to Texas’ home floor, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
A Win That Could Shift the Title Picture
Let’s talk big picture. LSU came into the season with national championship aspirations and the betting odds to back it up - +950 on DraftKings, fifth-best in the country.
But despite staying in the top five, their odds have since drifted to +1300. Texas, meanwhile, has held firm in the title race, currently sitting at +900, good for third-best.
Thursday night offers LSU a chance to flip that narrative. A road win over a top-5 opponent - especially one that’s ahead of them in the national title odds - could be the kind of momentum-shifting result that reestablishes the Tigers as a true front-runner in the championship conversation.
Breaking New Ground in the Mulkey Era
While Mulkey has already brought a national title to Baton Rouge, there’s still history to be made. Before that January win over Texas, LSU was 0-7 against top-5 SEC opponents during her tenure. That win broke the seal - now the Tigers are looking to prove they can do it again, this time on the road, in one of the toughest environments in the country.
Their best road victory so far this season came against then-No. 13 Oklahoma, a 91-72 blowout on January 18.
But knocking off No. 4 Texas in Austin?
That would be a signature win - the kind that resonates deep into March.
Balanced, Explosive, and Built to Score
What makes LSU so dangerous is their depth and scoring versatility. In that first meeting with Texas, freshman Mikaylah Williams led the way with 20 points, but she wasn’t alone.
Jada Richard, Flau’jae Johnson, ZaKiyah Johnson, and MiLaysia Fulwiley all chipped in 10 points apiece. That’s five players in double figures - and that’s not an outlier for this group.
LSU leads the nation in scoring at a blistering 98.9 points per game and features seven players averaging double digits. That kind of firepower makes them a matchup nightmare - you can’t key in on just one player, because someone else is always ready to step up.
Must-See Basketball
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN, and make no mistake - this is one of the biggest games of the regular season. It’s a top-5 clash with national title implications, a revenge game for Texas, and a proving ground for LSU.
Mulkey’s Tigers have already shown they can hang with the best. Now they’re out to prove they can beat the best - on the road, under the lights, with the whole country watching.