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The controversy erupted after Mulkey's team was eliminated for the second consecutive year in the Elite 8 of the NCAA tournament by top-seeded UCLA. A student reporter's question, which acknowledged the team's repeated failure to reach the Final Four, was met with Mulkey's sharp retort, where she pointedly challenged the reporter's qualifications to judge her coaching success.
Expectations of Respect in Sports Journalism
Mulkey's response resonated with those who feel that the media often treats athletes and coaches unfairly, especially when they fail to achieve the highest accolades. Commentators discussed how a press room filled with reporters can often feel like a battleground, where the lines between constructive criticism and condescension are easily blurred.