Kim Mulkey and the LSU Tigers had their sight set on Oliviyah Edwards. The number two-ranked prospect is one of the top prospects of the 2026 recruiting cycle. She has plenty of options in front of her, and LSU was considered the frontrunner among them.
However, going by her recent comment, it doesn’t look like Mulkey will have an easy time recruiting her. Instead of making a decision instantly, Edwards is focusing on evaluating all her options thoroughly.
“I am going to push (the decision) as far back as possible,” Edwards told Sports Illustrated. “With coaches (movement) and the transfer portal, I want to wait and see what it looks like. I don’t want to commit too early. So I am probably going to do it next summer.”
Understandably, she’s taking her time before making a final decision. Even with all the praise coming her way and different programs chasing her, Edwards has managed not to let anything get to her head.
This move, however, puts Mulkey in a tough spot. While LSU is being considered the frontrunner to sign her, there are other teams in strong contention. The most notable contender to LSU in this regard is South Carolina.
“Coach Staley turns bigs into beasts…. so you know I had to check it out. I’ll be taking my official visit to South Carolina Women’s Basketball from September 19–21 🐔❤️,” Edwards POSTED on X on 1st August.
Coach Staley turns bigs into beasts…. so you know I had to check it out. I’ll be taking my official visit to South Carolina Women’s Basketball from September 19–21 🐔❤️ pic.twitter.com/fvOrHtFBZl
— Oliviyah “Big Oh” Edwards (@EdwardsOliviyah) August 1, 2025
If the visit turns out to be everything Edwards is looking for, Mulkey may lose her chance of signing another generational talent.
What makes Oliviyah Edwards so special?
Edwards is a 6’3 forward known for her ferocious style of playing. The buzz that she has generated is hard-earned. As a result, all the top programs are keeping a close eye on her.
Needless to say, Edwards is talented, but she also possesses something that’s rare in women’s basketball. The 6’3 forward can dunk, which makes her a standout player. She knows it’s an added strength to her game and plans on doing it more often.
“I do want to dunk more,” Edwards said. “I do. I do think it’ll make women’s basketball watchable too.”
Edwards knows that people often use dunks as an excuse to discard women’s basketball. Since she has the skill to dunk, she wants to showcase it more often so the sport garners more eyeballs.
“I think I see people talking about how, like, oh, women don’t do this. This is why we watch men’s and I just feel like, if I can bring more eyes to women’s basketball, I feel like that gives more opportunity to everybody.”
The next few months are going to be crucial, not just for Edwards but every program that wants to sign her. It’ll be interesting to see what she prioritizes after every team demonstrates what they have to offer her.
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