MiLaysia Fulwiley stunned the college basketball world when she announced that she would be leaving Dawn Staley’s South Carolina and joining Kim Mulkey at LSU. It was a surprising move for Fulwiley, who chose to transfer to the Gamecocks’ SEC rivals after leading South Carolina to the national championship game of this year’s March Madness.
With the 2025-26 college basketball season fast approaching, here are five bold predictions for Fulwiley’s first year with the Tigers.
5 Bold Predictions for MiLaysia Fulwiley’s First Full Season at LSU
1. MiLaysia Fulwiley Will Start All of Her Games at LSU This Coming Season
South Carolina’s success in the past two seasons wouldn’t be possible without MiLaysia Fulwiley, who became a key weapon off the bench for head coach Dawn Staley. She played 77 games for the Gamecocks during that period, averaging 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest.
Fulwiley made only three starts in those 77 outings, all of which came during her freshman year. Staley’s reluctance to use Fulwiley as a starter may have been one of the reasons why the college basketball star decided to change schools ahead of her junior year.
That being said, expect Kim Mulkey to utilize her newest signing mainly as a starter in the 2025-26 season and form a new Big 3 with Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.
2. Fulwiley Will Post Career-Best Numbers in Scoring, Rebounding, and Assists
MiLaysia Fulwiley wasn’t able to put up gaudy numbers at South Carolina due to her role as a substitute. She averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 boards, and 2.2 dimes in her freshman year with the Gamecocks and followed it up with averages of 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in her sophomore season.
The 20-year-old will have more minutes as a starter at LSU, meaning more opportunities to pad her stats in the 2025-26 season. Look for Mulkey’s newest recruit to make waves in her first season with the Tigers.
Lookin’ good in the purple & gold 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/XfRPhxwj56
— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) June 25, 2025
3. Fulwiley Will Lead the LSU Tigers in Steals Next Season
MiLaysia Fulwiley showed at South Carolina that she isn’t just an offensive threat, but also a menace on the defensive end, averaging 1.6 steals through 77 games.
It isn’t far-fetched to see the Columbia, South Carolina, native lead the Tigers in this department next season. Aneesah Morrow, who led LSU in steals last season with a 2.5 average, is no longer with the Tigers, as she made the jump to the WNBA.
4. Fulwiley Will Lead LSU to Victory in the SEC Tournament
The South Carolina Gamecocks have dominated the SEC Tournament since Dawn Staley took over as their head coach in 2008, winning nine conference championships since 2015, including each of the last three editions.
Their reign will end next year, with Fulwiley leading LSU to its first SEC Tournament win since 2003. She has experience of winning this event, as she helped the Gamecocks capture the title in 2024 and 2025. Fulwiley helped South Carolina record a three-peat in this year’s SEC Tournament, averaging 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.7 steals in the wins over Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Texas.
5. MiLaysia Fulwiley Will Help LSU Secure a Final Four Berth Next Year
The LSU Tigers have failed to meet expectations since winning the national championship in 2023, losing in the Elite Eight in their last two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. They lost to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the regional final last year and suffered an Elite Eight defeat against the UCLA Bruins this year.
Fulwiley’s arrival will help LSU return to the Final Four stage next year. She has fared extremely well in the Big Dance, posting an 11-1 record in March Madness games during her stay at South Carolina.
KEEP READING: When LSU HC Kim Mulkey Stole the Spotlight In Flau’jae Johnson’s Track With $170M Worth Rapper
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