MiLaysia Fulwiley's move from South Carolina to LSU hasn't exactly panned out the way a lot of fans of the basketball star hoped it might. Fulwiley announced plans to enter the transfer portal last season, news that came as a surprise to plenty of Gamecocks supporters. Since then, she's appeared to struggle to acclimate to Kim Mulkey's system in Baton Rouge, and rumors that she might pop back into the transfer portal after this season are already running rife.
LSU's loss to South Carolina this week has seemed to heighten tension surrounding the young hooper, who has at least one more year of college eligibility remaining. The Tigers went down 79-72 in a tough contest, and the game was LSU's 18th straight loss to Dawn Staley and South Carolina.
On top of that Fulwiley didn't have her strongest game, or even a game that approximated one. She scored six points on 1-for-8 shooting, and ended the night with three turnovers in 23 minutes.
MiLaysia Fulwiley spent two years in South Carolina
Monday night's game was the first time Fulwiley played her former school. She previously spent two seasons with Staley in Columbia, and it's likely going head to head against the program was a nerve-wracking experience for her.
In fact, Mulkey appeared to imply as much while speaking to reporters after the game. As she put it, "I didn’t just sit with her and have a one-on-one conversation. I think I just coached her in front of her teammates. And I hope she has butterflies, because if she has butterflies, it means she’s invested in this program, and she’s excited."
Mulkey was also fairly positive about Fulwiley's performance, and noted that there's still plenty to work on. And, after all, that's the point of playing as a student: you're still young, and you're still learning.
"I thought she did typical Fulwiley. Give you some outstanding plays, stripped Raven [Johnson] early in the game. Got some layups, but then she turned it over," Mulkey also said. "And that’s part of who she is. We’ve got to continue to make positives, be pluses, when she’s in the ballgame and not minuses, because she has tremendous quickness."
MiLaysia Fulwiley is a 2027 WNBA Draft favorite
Fulwiley still has another year of college play left, but she's already a fan favorite for the 2027 WNBA Draft. Her move from South Carolina to LSU has been a challenging one in some respects, but it's also clear that she's open to growth.
But some fans suspect that Fulwiley may yet again enter the transfer portal to find a program that could end up supporting her in every way she needs. Much like Olivia Miles surprised most women's college basketball fans by departing Notre Dame for TCU — where she is clearly thriving — last season, it's possible Fulwiley still hasn't found exactly the right fit that will allow her to consistently unlock her entire potential.