MiLaysia Fulwiley’s rumored transfer to Ole Miss is “fake news” according to head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, despite the South Carolina guard entering the NCAA portal

Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin brutally shut down rumors that South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley will join the Rebels next season, after reportedly entering the transfer portal.

Fulwiley is already a national champion with the Gamecocks and was their second-highest scorer with an average of 11.7 points in her sophomore year, but has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to the Associated Press. Fulwiley had been more of a bench player for Dawn Staley’s team, but suggested that she wanted to be a starter moving forward.

As a rising college star, Fulwiley has since been linked with several programs, including Ole Miss, but McPhee-McCuin took to social media in an attempt to stop the rumors. “This is fake news and I’m tired of y’all speaking on our name for no reason!” McPhee-McCuin wrote on X. “Enough already.”

Fulwiley was ranked as the No. 13 player in the 2023 high school class, and is originally from South Carolina. While she’s entered the transfer portal and could leave her home state, she has until April 22 to decide whether to stay in the portal and transfer or withdraw and return to the Gamecocks.

The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 18.9 minutes per game last season despite not being a starter, and with a national championship and a Final Four win in her first two years, it appeared as though she was on the dream path. However, her minutes became more scarce as the season rolled on.

When reflecting on her college career so far, Fulwiley praised Staley’s program, which ended any speculation that she felt negatively towards the South Carolina head coach. “I think my growth has been tremendous,” Fulwiley said.

“I think I’ve grown in lots of places where I didn’t even know I could grow in. I’m just glad to be here in a program where the coaches are kind of very open and very direct with what they want and what they need from each and every one of us.”

Fulwiley then opened up on her role in more detail, and hinted that she wanted a larger role moving forward. “I think I kind of just took what they were saying, and I had to understand that it’s either I do it or I don’t. I felt like I wanted to do it,” Fulwiley said.

“It’s been working for me lately. So the standard that Dawn has got here is great, and I think every player should want to play under this standard. It just brings out the best in each and every one of us, and I think it definitely brings out the best in me.”

Fulwiley’s decision may have also stemmed from Staley’s decision to acquire Ta’Niya Latson, who has recently joined the Gamecocks after transferring from Florida State. The 5-foot-8 guard was the leading NCAA scorer last season after averaging 25.2 points per game.

Latson has already completed three years with the Seminoles and is entering her senior year, which would have given Fulwiley more competition next season. For Latson, it’s a dream to play for South Carolina, but she feels forever connected to Florida State for allowing her to grow.

“This place has challenged me and helped me grow both on and off the court,” Latson wrote on Instagram. “It gave me a platform to make a name for myself, and for that Florida State will always be a place I call home.”

Fulwiley is still yet to make her final decision, and may return to South Carolina. Latson may be joining the roster, but the Gamecocks lost Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, and Sania Feagin after they were all selected in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft.