The rivalry between Dawn Staley’s South Carolina and Kim Mulkey’s LSU got a little spicier ahead of the 2025 season, as MiLaysia Fulwiley decided to switch sides and join the Tigers. Here are five reasons why the Gamecocks can lose to the Tigers this coming NCAA campaign.
5 Reasons Why Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Can Lose to Kim Mulkey’s LSU in 2025
1. South Carolina lost key players this offseason
It isn’t just MiLaysia Fulwiley who left South Carolina after the 2024-25 NCAA season. Dawn Staley also lost three other key members of her roster who were part of the Gamecocks’ title-winning team last year.
Te-Hina Paopao, Sania Feagin, and Bree Hall have all graduated and used up their eligibility to play women’s college basketball. Paopao averaged 9.4 points per contest and led South Carolina in assists last season. Feagin averaged 8.1 points per game and led the Gamecocks in blocks in the 2024-25 season. Hall averaged 6.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in her final year with South Carolina.
2. Dawn Staley will miss MiLaysia Fulwiley’s bench production
South Carolina’s success in the past two seasons wouldn’t be possible without MiLaysia Fulwiley, who flourished in her bench role under Dawn Staley. Fulwiley averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals through 77 games in her South Carolina career despite making just three starts under Staley.
That production off the bench was crucial in South Carolina reaching back-to-back NCAA title games in 2024 and 2025. Staley will find it difficult to get that same offensive impact from one of her reserves in the 2025-26 campaign.
3. South Carolina will have to deal with LSU’s new Big 3
Losing Fulwiley is hard enough for Dawn Staley and South Carolina. Losing her to Kim Mulkey and LSU through the transfer portal makes it even more difficult for the Gamecocks.
With Fulwiley joining Mulkey’s lineup, the LSU Tigers have assembled a new Big 3 for the upcoming season. Fulwiley will team up with Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, giving Mulkey a potent attacking trio in her starting five.
Johnson and Williams averaged 18.6 and 17.3 points per game, respectively, last season for LSU. They will be even harder to stop next season with Fulwiley on the floor alongside them.
Lookin’ good in the purple & gold 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/XfRPhxwj56
— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) June 25, 2025
4. Ashlyn Watkins won’t be available in the 2025-26 NCAA season
Ashlyn Watkins missed a large chunk of the 2024-25 NCAA season after she suffered a knee injury in the game against Mississippi State on Jan. 5. Watkins tore the ACL in her left knee, cutting short her once-promising campaign. She averaged 7.2 points, 6.1 boards, and 1.1 dimes through 14 games last season. She was also a menace on the defensive end, averaging 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest.
Watkins was expected to return to South Carolina’s lineup next season, but she has decided to take time off basketball and sit out the entire 2025-26 NCAA campaign. Losing Watkins is a huge blow for the Gamecocks, who will miss her frontcourt presence.
5. LSU has strengthened its lineup with key additions this offseason
Kim Mulkey and his staff went to work this offseason after the LSU Tigers lost in the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Apart from signing Fulwiley, the Tigers also bolstered their lineup by adding Kate Koval and Amiya Joyner.
They also have several incoming freshmen, including Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrage, Bella Hines, and Meghan Yarnevich. Knox and Johnson were named Naismith High All-Americans this year.
KEEP READING: LSU Women’s Basketball Schedule: Top 5 Takeaways As MiLaysia Fulwiley Takes On New Role for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers
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