Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers made the Sweet 16 this year in the NCAA Tournament. Before losing to the Duke Blue Devils, they were considered to be one of the favorites to win the title because of their incredible roster.
While it’ll take some time for the Tigers to get over the loss, Mulkey has started working toward keeping most of the roster intact for the next season. The NCAA transfer portal will open on April 7 and will remain open until April 21.
During a recent conversation with WAFB-TV’s Jacques Doucet, Mulkey said that she has had individual meetings with players on the roster and has a clear idea of who is leaving and who is staying back.
Mulkey said that all the players are coming back next season except Divine Bourrage. She is a former five-star recruit who played 24 games this season, averaging 2.1 points per game. LSU will also lose Flau’jae Johnson, but not to the transfer portal, as she’s going to the WNBA.
Based on what Mulkey told Doucet, Milaysia Fulwiley, Mikaylah Williams, Jada Richard, Kate Koval, Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson, Bella Hines, and Meghan Yarnevich are all expected to return with the Tigers next season.
“You cannot understand the value of having all of them come back,” she said. “That’s how you build it. That’s how you get over that hump of an Elite Eight. When you look at those that are coming back, freshman, freshman, sophomore, junior, sophomore, and look how much they did this year.”
Mulkey said that she is “blessed” to have all these players stay together and make another run at the NCAA title next year. She is confident that with the LSU core largely unaffected by the transfer portal, they will be able to build something special together.
Kim Mulkey Welcomed New Assistant Coach
Former Tigers’ assistant coach, Gary Redus, left the program and accepted the Rutgers Scarlet Knights women’s basketball program’s head coaching offer in March. Replacing Redus was one biggest challenges for LSU, and they found a suitable replacement.
The LSU Tigers hired former Tennessee assistant Gabe Lazo as their new assistant coach last month. Mulkey released a statement, welcoming Lazo to the LSU family.
“Gabe will be an outstanding addition to our staff,” she wrote. “He has been an invaluable member of two SEC staffs with an unbelievable ability to teach the game and recruit the best players in the country.”
Lazo is known for his game planning and being a great recruiter. Mulkey is hoping that he will make a huge impact on the program.
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