MiLaysia Fulwiley Stuns College Basketball World by Signing With LSU Tigers

In one of the most shocking and talked-about moves of the 2025 women’s college basketball offseason, dynamic sophomore guard MiLaysia Fulwiley has announced she is transferring from South Carolina to LSU. The decision, made official via social media and later confirmed by LSU, has not only reshaped the SEC title race for the upcoming season but also sent ripples across the broader landscape of the sport.

Once a five-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect in the Class of 2023, Fulwiley is a rising star whose flair, scoring ability, and electric ball-handling made her a fan favorite at South Carolina. She now joins Kim Mulkey’s LSU squad, which has already been a dominant force in recent years, including a national championship in 2023 and deep postseason runs since.

This is more than a roster move — it’s a storyline drenched in rivalry, identity, and shifting power dynamics.

MiLaysia Fulwiley grew up in Columbia, South Carolina. She was a local legend well before stepping foot on the University of South Carolina campus, dazzling fans with her elite scoring and court vision at W.J. Keenan High School. Her commitment to South Carolina in high school was widely celebrated. She was expected to be the Gamecocks’ next face of the program, potentially taking the baton from stars like A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston.

Her freshman season showed promise: she averaged 11.7 points per game in just under 19 minutes, shooting over 40% from the field and providing a burst of offense off the bench. Fans and analysts were especially taken by her handles — a blend of Kyrie Irving creativity and Allen Iverson explosiveness, rare in women’s college basketball.

Despite her performance, Fulwiley didn’t become a full-time starter. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley often praised her impact but leaned on a more veteran-heavy rotation during key games. As a sophomore, with the arrival of Miami transfer and former ACC Freshman of the Year Ta’Niya Latson, plus the continued development of Raven Johnson, the writing may have been on the wall for a smaller role ahead.

In an era defined by player empowerment and the transfer portal, Fulwiley made a bold move — she chose change.

The answer isn’t just playing time, though that’s part of it. At LSU, Fulwiley is likely to start from Day 1. She joins a roster already featuring elite talent like Flau’Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, both of whom have earned All-SEC honors and have strong NIL brands themselves. Fulwiley adds to a core that’s now arguably the most explosive backcourt in the country.

But there’s also the Kim Mulkey factor.

Mulkey has never shied away from the spotlight. She recruits stars, isn’t afraid of strong personalities, and builds her system around letting playmakers play. In many ways, Fulwiley and Mulkey are a perfect match: flashy, fearless, and focused on winning.

With Angel Reese having gone to the WNBA, LSU was in need of a new face for the program. Enter Fulwiley — a player who already has a signature NIL shoe deal (with Under Armour, ironically, despite LSU being a Nike school), a massive social media following, and a game built for primetime.

The decision to jump from South Carolina to its fiercest SEC rival also speaks volumes. It’s rare for a player of Fulwiley’s caliber to transfer within the conference — and rarer still to go from the reigning national champion to the team that has recently shared the national spotlight. It’s the kind of move that changes not only depth charts but headlines, narratives, and recruiting battles for years to come.

For LSU, this is a home run.

Even after a championship in 2023, Mulkey wasn’t content. Last year’s Tigers team struggled with inconsistency, chemistry, and defensive intensity — things that caused an early exit in the NCAA Tournament. The program needed a jolt of energy, someone who could ignite the crowd and raise the floor and ceiling of the offense.

Fulwiley does all of that.

She gives LSU another perimeter scoring option and someone who can generate offense without needing a designed set. Her ball-handling and court vision will take pressure off Flau’Jae Johnson, while her quickness and creativity open up transition opportunities. She’s also a willing defender, and while not yet elite on that end, her quick hands and athleticism fit LSU’s preferred up-tempo, aggressive style.

The move also helps LSU off the court. Fulwiley brings her large NIL portfolio, which includes endorsements with Red Bull and other lifestyle brands. In Baton Rouge, she’ll have opportunities to grow her brand in a sports-obsessed market, further reinforcing LSU as a destination for top-tier talent that also wants to flourish beyond the game.

There’s no sugarcoating it — losing Fulwiley hurts the Gamecocks. Dawn Staley’s squad is still loaded and will remain a top-five team nationally, but the departure of Fulwiley is both a tactical and emotional loss.

It’s rare to lose a hometown hero. It’s even rarer for that player to leave after a national title season.

South Carolina still has Latson, Raven Johnson, and Sania Feagin, and they’ll likely remain a Final Four contender. But Fulwiley was viewed as the heir apparent — the player who could lead South Carolina through the next wave of championship contention. Her departure leaves a gap not easily filled, especially one that could now haunt them within the conference.

And while Staley has never been one to criticize player movement — she’s been vocal in supporting athlete empowerment — the optics of losing a hometown phenom to a direct SEC rival will linger.

Fulwiley’s decision is emblematic of the new era in college athletics.

With the rise of the NCAA transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, and social media stardom, players are no longer tethered to a single program. The college game has shifted dramatically, and Fulwiley represents that shift as well as anyone.

She didn’t leave because of scandal. She wasn’t benched or in trouble. She made a calculated decision to grow her role, elevate her brand, and maximize her potential — athletically and financially. And she chose to do it on one of the biggest stages in the sport.

The move also brings NIL friction into sharper focus. Fulwiley has signature shoes through Under Armour. LSU is a Nike school. How those conflicting affiliations get sorted out is still unclear, but it illustrates how complex the ecosystem has become.

Fans are passionate, and loyalty matters. But in the age of NIL and unprecedented freedom of movement, the best players — like Fulwiley — are thinking big picture.

Looking ahead, LSU instantly becomes a Final Four favorite. The addition of Fulwiley vaults them into national title contention. If the chemistry clicks, Mulkey’s Tigers will be terrifying in transition, tough in half-court sets, and headline-makers all season.

Matchups with South Carolina will be appointment viewing. The drama, the talent, the backstory — it’s everything college basketball could ask for. Fulwiley returning to Columbia in a Tigers uniform will be one of the most emotionally charged events of the year.

For Fulwiley, the spotlight will shine brighter than ever. She will be asked to lead, score, facilitate, and close. She will face critics and comparisons. But if her first two college seasons are any indication, she’s ready for the challenge.

MiLaysia Fulwiley’s move to LSU isn’t just about a player switching jerseys. It’s a reflection of a sport in transition — one where the best athletes have more choices, more power, and more visibility than ever before.

In the process, she has set a precedent. Five-star recruits, especially those from powerhouse programs, aren’t locked in by tradition. They will go where they feel empowered, challenged, and supported.

Fulwiley is betting on herself — and on LSU. If it pays off, it won’t just be another win for Kim Mulkey’s program. It will be a moment that shapes how we understand player movement, loyalty, and ambition in the modern era of college basketball.