Former South Carolina star guard MiLaysia Fulwiley has committed to join the LSU Tigers, she announced on social media Friday.
Fulwiley, a rising junior, will join the Tigers with two years of eligibility remaining. LSU is looking to return to the Final Four for the second time in coach Kim Mulkey’s tenure with the program.
A South Carolina native, Fulwiley developed into one of college basketball’s most exciting players in her first two seasons with the Gamecocks. Although she started only three games and averaged fewer than 19 minutes per contest, Fulwiley routinely drew the attention of luminaries around the sport. In her freshman debut against Notre Dame in Paris, Fulwiley caught the attention of Magic Johnson, who posted that he had just witnessed “the best move in all of basketball including the pros like LeBron, Steph, KD, Victor, and Jokic” from Fulwiley. While it was a notable moment, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said “that play is routine for her,” in a reflection of Fulwiley’s incredible athleticism.
With the Tigers, Fulwiley will pair with star guard Flau’jae Johnson, who is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2026 WNBA Draft. Johnson was first-team all-SEC and third-team All-American this past season, and she has been clear about her desire to win a second national title before she leaves Baton Rouge. The Tigers won the national championship in Johnson’s freshman season in 2023. LSU went 31-6 last season and lost in the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year.
With the butter🫡💛💜
— Flaujae 4️⃣ (@Flaujae) April 25, 2025
Fulwiley, having averaged 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2 assists in only 19 minutes per game last season, highlights what will be a revamped LSU roster next fall. The Tigers saw five players enter the transfer portal, most notably forward Sa’Myah Smith and guard Last-Tear Poa. Former Notre Dame center Kate Koval is joining LSU via the transfer portal after one season with the Irish, as is former East Carolina first-team All-AAC forward Amiya Joyner. LSU also has the top-ranked recruiting class in the country, headlined by forward Grace Knox.
🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/Hvt8JJcmDD
— Kim Mulkey (@KimMulkey) April 25, 2025
Fulwiley’s minutes fluctuated throughout her two seasons at South Carolina. Although she will be playing next to Johnson and junior Mikaylah Williams, who was also a five-star high school recruit, it’s fair to expect Fulwiley’s role to be more consistent. LSU will host South Carolina this upcoming season.
Fulwiley had been the No. 13 player in the 2023 class. She chose the Gamecocks over schools like Louisville, Ole Miss and Florida. South Carolina had been interested in the hometown recruit early in the process, offering Fulwiley as a seventh grader.
The Gamecocks have not lost to the Tigers since 2012. However, the two programs have played in a number of highly-competitive games since Mulkey took the LSU job ahead of the 2021 season.
Fulwiley had been the No. 2 player on The Athletic’s transfer portal tracker at the time of her commitment.
(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)