MiLaysia Fulwiley's decision to enter the transfer portal following South Carolina's 82-59 loss to UConn during the NCAA Championship game was both surprising and... not surprising at all, at least to anyone who has been following the "should she stay or should she go" conversation that hung over Fulwiley's head half the season.
Those who wanted Fulwiley to leave the Gamecocks often cited Coach Dawn Staley's decision to repeatedly keep the young star on the bench, or for benching her seemingly after one mistake on the court. Fans of Fulwiley pointed to the Championship Game as an example of Staley making too many bad calls in terms of Fulwiley's time on the court, but Fulwiley herself played recklessly, often turning over the ball within seconds, and did more harm than good to South Carolina's defensive rotations.
Though there are growing arguments in favor of keeping players at the same school for longer than one season, or for adjusting how many times a player can transfer, right now the decision to leave South Carolina is one that Fulwiley is well within her power to make. And when it comes to what schools she might move to, there are two that stand out above the rest, mostly because they already have a strong history with the incoming junior.
MiLaysia Fulwiley should transfer to the University of Louisville
The Louisville Cardinals were one of the first teams to approach Fulwiley in high school, and in a lot of ways their program could be a great fit for the 5'10" guard. Louisville's Coach Jeff Walz is an avid supporter of players who want to shoot the ball, and he's likely to give Fulwiley the room to make the kinds of flashy moves she's wont to — especially if she can get buckets in the process.
There's also room at Louisville, who has seen the departure of graduating seniors Jayda Curry, Ja'Leah Williams, Olivia Cochran, and Merissah Russell as well as Nyla Harris and Izela Arenas, both of whom also hit the transfer portal. That leaves a sizable gap for Fulwiley to enter as the face of the team, and Walz knows what it takes to get an athlete from NCAA basketball to the WNBA.
For the unfamiliar, the Coach Walz system is all about building an offense around someone who can score, which is exactly the kind of system that would benefit an athlete like Fulwiley. She's not afraid to take chances and clearly wants more time on the court, and Walz has the room for her to get as much time as a game will allow (and has no problem supporting players who demonstrate tenacity and grit). Fulwiley is undoubtedly being courted by plenty of teams, but the Cardinals are a standout she shouldn't ignore.