It “didn’t take much” to convince former South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley to transfer to LSU. That’s according to Tigers coach Kim Mulkey in a recent podcast interview.
Fulwiley, a Columbia native, announced her plans to leave Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks for the transfer portal on April 17. A week later on April 25, she announced her commitment to Mulkey and the Tigers. LSU officially announced Fulwiley had signed with the program later that afternoon, though On3Sports’ Talia Goodman reported that Fulwiley signed with LSU on April 17.
Mulkey told the “Get Gordon Podcast” on Friday that Fulwiley never visited LSU before committing.
“It didn’t take much,” Mulkey said in the interview. “I think I spoke to her and her mother one time, one time. She has not even come here on a visit.
‘She’s played against us enough to know our style of play. These young people do their homework. They look at rosters. They look at openings in the starting five. They look at openings in the rotation of eight or nine players. And she, pretty much I think, had her mind made up. And it was not an easy thing to sell, but you’re always nervous, and that’s what makes it not easy.”
Fulwiley has not yet said publicly why she decided to leave the Gamecocks. It’s possible that Fulwiley, who averaged 18.9 minutes per game (No. 9 on the team), left in search of more playing time and an expanded role.
Fulwiley has some familiarity with Pete Maravich Assembly Center and LSU in general thanks to two years in the SEC.
“Every time we’ve played South Carolina, she in particular has kicked our rear end,” Mulkey said. “Whether it be in a regular season game or the SEC Tournament, she just was special every time she played LSU.”
The guard, who Staley referred to as a generational star, averaged 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and two steals in her three games against LSU. During the 2024 SEC Tournament championship, Fulwiley scored 24 points in a win over the Tigers.
Fulwiley helped South Carolina win a national title during her freshman season in 2024 and provided a spark off the bench, starting in just three of the 76 games in her career. She was named the SEC’s Sixth Woman of the Year this past season after finishing second in scoring for the Gamecocks, averaging 11.8 points per game.
“She’s an exciting player. She plays with a lot of flair,” Mulkey said. “She’s going to come into a program that has great players. And we’re going to be excited when we when I can get her on that floor.”
