The women’s college basketball landscape shifted dramatically when South Carolina’s electrifying guard MiLaysia Fulwiley announced her transfer to rival LSU. The move comes fresh off South Carolina’s appearance in the 2025 NCAA championship game against UConn and represents one of the most significant transfers in recent memory.
Fulwiley’s decision to join Kim Mulkey’s Tigers has sent shockwaves through the basketball community. After averaging 11.7 points as a super-sub for the Gamecocks and earning SEC Sixth Player of the Year honors, Fulwiley now steps into a spotlight role at LSU, where her playing time should increase dramatically. However, experts question if the Tigers’ new guard-heavy approach can translate to championship success.
LSU’s Guard Logjam Raises Chemistry Concerns
“It’s going to be fun. It’s not going to be synergistic,” noted basketball analysts discussing the transfer on the “Locked on Women’s Basketball” podcast. With Fulwiley joining existing backcourt stars Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, LSU’s roster construction has become notably imbalanced, creating what one analyst called “the most hooperpilled basketball team you can have in college. So many hoopers. So many shots, so few assists.”
LSU’s frontcourt has been decimated this offseason, losing all five forwards and centers to either graduation or transfers.
While they’ve added transfers like Notre Dame’s Kate Koval and East Carolina’s Amiya Joyner to address this gap, there are legitimate concerns about floor spacing and defensive capabilities against teams with strong post players.
The backcourt congestion has analysts questioning how Mulkey will distribute playing time among three ball-dominant guards.
“I’m worried about the half-court offense,” one expert noted during the podcast discussion, adding, “there’s no driving lanes” as a primary concern. The Tigers’ success may hinge on how quickly these talented but potentially overlapping players can establish defined roles.
Kim Mulkey’s Coaching Challenge
Mulkey has publicly embraced Fulwiley’s arrival calling her “one of the most electrifying talents in college basketball” while emphasizing her ability to impact winning.
However, the coaching challenge ahead shouldn’t be underestimated, as Mulkey must now craft an offense that maximizes three high usage guards while compensating for a depleted frontcourt.
“All Kim really wants out of a point guard is for you to throw it to the big at the elbow and to come off a screen at the other elbow. That’s all she really asks her point guards to do,” explained one analyst, suggesting that Fulwiley may need to adapt her free-flowing style to Mulkey’s more structured approach.
The transfer intensifies the already heated South Carolina-LSU rivalry. As one basketball analyst put it when discussing the transfer.
“She’s the most Kim Mulkey transfer guard,” noting the shared aggressive playing style between player and coach. This personality fit could prove crucial in determining whether Fulwiley thrives in Baton Rouge.
Also Read: With Paige Bueckers Gone, Who Will Be the Next Face of Women’s College Basketball?
The ultimate success of this high-profile move will depend on Mulkey’s ability to balance egos and optimize playing styles. With Fulwiley potentially taking over point guard duties, LSU is betting that elite backcourt firepower can overcome its lack of proven post players.
A risky strategy that could either elevate them to championship contenders or create an unsustainable style of play that falters against more balanced opponents.
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