Coaches split over quality of team accommodations in Albany
This is the second year of NCAA women’s basketball Super Regional.
This means eight teams are assigned to one site over four days.
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey questioned the equitability of hotels here in Albany on Friday. She wondered whether enough hotels are bidding to host women and maybe that is why it is being held where it is.
“I know with the personalities and the ratings and how good the game is right now, maybe we will get more bids to host.”
“Just make sure if you’re going to have that many in one city that everything is pretty equal.”
However, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley provided a ringing endorsement for area hotel accommodations in an unsolicited comment.
“I thought this region did an excellent job at hosting. All the teams, the hotels, the gym was very accommodating,” said Staley.
Staley added that if Albany makes a bid for the tournament, again, “you got my vote.”
The undefeated Gamecocks already have advanced to the Final Four.
The winner of Monday’s game between LSU and Iowa will join them in Cleveland.
NewsChannel 13 reached out to Jill Delaney of Discover Albany for a response about Mulkey’s comments.
“While we are disappointed that this one negative comment has been the focus, we are happy that so many other teams shared their appreciation for all that we did to make this a great experience for them here in Albany,” she said. “The women this year were hosted in the same hotels as the men were last year, and we are ready to welcome them all back when the NCAA asks.”