South Carolina guard Milaysia Fulwiley’s sudden decision to enter the transfer portal, the conversation took a sharp turn on social media this week. Fans and analysts alike began to question whether internal conflict with head coach Dawn Staley may have been the driving factor behind Fulwiley’s move — until Fulwiley’s girlfriend stepped in with a fiery and direct post of her own.
Taking to Instagram Stories late Thursday night, Fulwiley’s girlfriend didn’t mince words. While addressing the rumors head-on, she dismissed the idea that Coach Staley had bullied Fulwiley throughout the season — a narrative that had begun spreading rapidly online.
“They’re good. Y’all should stop making sh*t up,” she wrote, responding to claims of locker room tension and personal conflict between the star freshman and her legendary coach.
Her comment, while brief, sparked a new wave of responses across social media. For many fans, it served as a firm denial of the circulating drama, while others interpreted it as an attempt to protect Fulwiley’s privacy during an emotionally sensitive time.
A Swirl of Rumors
Since Fulwiley’s announcement to transfer, speculation has been rampant. Anonymous sources, fan accounts, and even some pundits hinted that Fulwiley may have been unhappy with her role on the team or allegedly mistreated behind the scenes. The narrative gained traction in part because of her sudden departure and because of her seemingly close relationship with Coach Staley earlier in the season.
While Fulwiley has remained publicly silent, the lack of a detailed explanation has left room for assumptions to grow.
Who Is MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Girlfriend? Meet JaMeesia Ford, 200m NCAA Indoor Champion
Fulwiley was a McDonald’s All-American and was ranked as the No. 13 player nationally in the 2023 recruiting class by ESPN. She is one half of a power couple in South Carolina. Let’s meet her other half.
Who Is Milaysia Fulwiley’s Girlfriend?
Fulwiley is dating JaMeesia Ford. She’s a fellow athlete at South Carolina, but she completes on the track while Fulwiley operates on the court. Ford is the NCAA 200-meter indoor champion and holds the world under-20 record holder over 300 meters.
Ford is also a sophomore at South Carolina, and the two went official with their relationship in 2024. They officially met at a joint women’s basketball and track and field hangout during the 2023 fall semester.
The pair won co-Female Freshman of the Year at South Carolina’s 2024 Gamecock Gala, an annual event honoring the school’s top student-athletes.
“I’ve never really seen a couple that thrives like us,” Fulwiley said. “That’s what really made us want to go public.”
“I didn’t really start watching basketball till I met her, so it was very new for me,” Ford said of their relationship. “And the championship game, it was, I don’t know how to explain it. I’m speechless still.”
Reports came out on Friday that Fulwiley is hitting the transfer portal. She was South Carolina’s second-leading scorer in the 2024-25 season with an 11.7 average in 39 games off the bench. She was the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and also earned second-team all-conference honors.
Fulwiley played an integral role in the Gamecocks’ title-winning run in 2024. She was also very important in South Carolina’s run to the championship game this year, although they fell to UConn in the final game.
