It’s LSU for MiLaysia Fulwiley: Gamecock transfer to join Kim Mulkey’s Tigers
When South Carolina beat LSU in January, Tigers coach Kim Mulkey joked she wished Dawn Staley would let her have some of the McDonald’s All-Americans coming off the Gamecocks bench.
Three months later, Mulkey has swiped one of those former high school All-Americans for her own roster.
Former South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley announced Friday that she’s committed to play at LSU on social media. The heralded hometown signee who Staley called a “generational talent” declared her intentions to transfer from the Gamecocks a week earlier.
“Geuax Tigers,” Fulwiley said in the post.
On3 Sports’ Talia Goodman reported Friday that Fulwiley signed with LSU on April 17, the same day she announced her intentions to transfer from South Carolina.
LSU later Friday afternoon officially announced Fulwiley had signed with the program. Fulwiley has two years of eligibility remaining.
“I’m excited to welcome MiLaysia as the newest member of our LSU Tiger family!” Mulkey said in a news release. “She’s bringing her incredible playmaking ability to Baton Rouge, standing out as one of the most electrifying talents in college basketball. Her ability to impact winning has been clear throughout her career, and we can’t wait to see her shine in purple and gold at the PMAC soon!”
The decision to transfer to LSU immediately makes next season’s matchup between the two SEC powerhouses that much more interesting. No date has been set yet for that game, which will be played in Baton Rouge.
A rivalry of sorts has formed between South Carolina and LSU in the last few years since Mulkey took over the Tigers’ program in 2021. USC is currently riding a 17-game win streak over LSU that includes the 2024 SEC Championship game.
Fulwiley ended her sophomore college season April 6 when the Gamecocks lost to UConn in the national championship game. She scored nine points in 18 minutes.
Fulwiley is a Columbia native and graduate of Keenan High School who played in 76 games across those two seasons with the Gamecocks. She helped win a national title during her freshman season last year and provided a spark off the bench, starting just three games in her career.
She was named the SEC’s 6th Woman of the Year this past season after finishing second in scoring for the Gamecocks, averaging 11.8 points per game.
Fulwiley has not said publicly why she decided to leave the Gamecocks. It is possible that Fulwiley, who was ninth on the team with an average of 18.9 minutes per game, left in search of more playing time and an expanded role.
South Carolina women’s basketball roster outlook
- Leaving/out of eligibility (3): guards Te-Hina Paopao and Bree Hall, forward Sania Feagin
- Leaving/transfer (2): forward Sakima Walker, guard MiLaysia Fulwiley
Transferring in (2): guard Ta’Niya Latson (Florida State) and Madina Okot (Mississippi State)
- Expected to return (8): guard Raven Johnson, guard Tessa Johnson, guard Maddy McDaniel, forward Chloe Kitts, forward Joyce Edwards, forward Ashlyn Watkins, forward Maryam Dauda and forward Adhel Tac
- Incoming freshmen (2): Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer, both wings
This story was originally published April 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM.
