MiLaysia Fulwiley, a former South Carolina Gamecocks hometown star under Dawn Staley, secured a gold medal at the 2026 FIBA 3×3 World Cup in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday.
Fulwiley, now at LSU, was part of the U.S. squad that defeated Australia 21-20 in a dramatic championship game. In the gold medal game, Fulwiley made key 2-pointers. LSU’s Mikaylah Williams knocked down the game-winning shot for gold.
Fulwiley posted several pictures after winning the championship. She captioned her Instagram post with three words:
“FEELS OSO GOOD 🙂↔️🙂↔️🥹 ”
Fulwiley played in the tournament alongside Mikaylah Williams, Joyce Edwards (South Carolina) and Sahara Williams(Oklahoma). Before beating Australia in the gold medal match, Team USA survived a tense 19-18 overtime semifinal against Azerbaijan.
This was Team USA’s fourth women’s FIBA 3×3 World Cup gold medal in history (2012, 2014, 2023 and 2026).
Dawn Staley’s Message to MiLaysia Fulwiley After She Left South Carolina
Dawn Staley saw MiLaysia Fulwiley leave South Carolina for the LSU Tigers through the transfer portal before the 2025-26 season.
Fulwiley left despite tremendous success in the NCAA Tournament during the 2024-25 season, as the Gamecocks were just one win away from the national championship.
After the season, when the Gamecocks fell to UConn in the national title game, Fulwiley left South Carolina for a more featured role in Baton Rouge.
Despite Fulwiley’s departure, Staley only had good things for her, leaving the door open for future arrival as well.
“I think being in this space, you come to expect the unexpected,” Staley said. “I still have much love for MiLaysia, much love. Like, I want her happy. She and her mom came in, and she said, ‘I think I’m going to get into the transfer portal.’ I really do only want our players happy. Like, I do, whether that’s with us or somewhere else. Just be happy. I told her, don’t look back. I know it’s going to be hard to not look back, you leaving your hometown and all that. I said, ‘Don’t look back. You’re always going to be a Gamecock. You’re always going to be welcomed here.'”
In her first season with LSU, Fulwiley averaged 14.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 47.4%. She played in 35 games and earned SEC Sixth Woman of the Year honors.
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