MiLaysia Fulwiley transfers to South Carolina women’s basketball rival LSU, Kim Mulkey

The Gamecocks play at LSU during the 2025-26 season.

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These two SEC powerhouse programs have built up somewhat of a rivalry in recent years. In 2023-24, the Tigers were close to handing the Gamecocks their first loss of the season in Baton Rouge, but South Carolina stormed back in the fourth quarter for the victory.

They later met in the SEC tournament championship in Greenville, and a fight broke out and caused a nearly-20 minute delay in the final minutes of the game. The altercation originally started because Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU star Flau’jae Johnson. After Johnson fouled Fulwiley to stop the play, Ashlyn Watkins celebrated near Johnson, which caused the initial shoving. That led to South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso shoving Johnson to the ground.

In the championship game, Fulwiley scored 24 points and won SEC tournament MVP as a freshman.

This past season, LSU played at Columbia and the Gamecocks won 66-56. Fulwiley had 15 points.

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Coach Kim Mulkey, who has won four national championships, including one with LSU, has lost five players to the transfer portal, and star Aneesah Morrow is headed to the WNBA but will return Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.

“I’m excited to welcome MiLaysia as the newest member of our LSU Tiger family!” Mulkey said in a school release on April 25. “She’s bringing her incredible playmaking ability to Baton Rouge, standing out as one of the most electrifying talents in college basketball. Her ability to impact winning has been clear throughout her career, and we can’t wait to see her shine in purple and gold at the PMAC soon!”

FUTURE GAMECOCK: What Dawn Staley said about Agot Makeer signing with South Carolina women’s basketball

South Carolina has not lost to the Tigers since Jan. 12, 2012. After the game on Jan. 24, Mulkey joked about Staley having a loaded roster filled with McDonald’s All-Americans. Mulkey said, “How do you even keep 10 on a roster.”

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Now, she has one of Staley’s All-Americans for the 2025-26 season.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: MiLaysia Fulwiley transfers to LSU basketball from South Carolina