The historic 10-Year War between Ohio State’s Woody Hayes and Michigan’s Bo Schembechler from 1969 to 1978 defined an era of intense rivalry. Now, women’s college basketball has its own brewing battle between LSU’s Kim Mulkey and South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.
What was once just a competitive matchup has now escalated into a full-blown rivalry ever since Mulkey took the reins at LSU in 2022. She quickly led the Tigers to their first NCAA title in 2023, but Staley’s Gamecocks have had their number on the court, defeating LSU in every meeting during that span — and winning championships themselves in 2022 and 2024. Tensions reached a boiling point with an emotional, physical clash during the 2024 SEC Tournament final.
Now, the rivalry has added a fresh — and fiery — chapter. LSU just landed former South Carolina star MiLaysia Fulwiley out of the transfer portal, officially announced on Friday.
There’s a deep backstory here. Fulwiley, a hometown hero from Columbia, South Carolina, was once described by Dawn Staley as a “generational talent.” She served as a critical spark off the bench during South Carolina’s back-to-back runs to the NCAA title game. Yet with the return of standout guard Raven Johnson and the blockbuster addition of Ta’Niya Latson — the nation’s top scorer from Florida State — Fulwiley may have seen her chances to start slipping away.
Now, she joins an LSU roster that’s restocking for a major 2025-26 push. Though Fulwiley isn’t a flawless addition — she’s averaged 11.7 points per game on 43.2% shooting and 30.2% from three, while sometimes struggling with turnovers — the upside is undeniable. As Staley emphasized: “generational talent.“
ESPN ranked her the 13th-best prospect out of high school in 2023, with Mikaylah Williams ranked No. 2. ESPN analyst Charlie Crème praised Fulwiley’s game as “electrifying” and “spellbinding,” highlighting her ability to turn a game with breathtaking plays.
Imagining a fastbreak featuring Flau’jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams, and now MiLaysia Fulwiley is tantalizing. LSU might boast the best backcourt in the country next season, bolstered by a No. 1-ranked recruiting class heavy on elite guards.
Of course, there are cautionary tales. The addition of Hailey Van Lith last year didn’t perfectly fit LSU’s puzzle. (Van Lith, along with Angel Reese, just returned to Baton Rouge after playing for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky in an exhibition against Brazil.) While there might be some skepticism around Fulwiley’s transition, her ceiling makes the gamble more than worthwhile.
In addition to Fulwiley, LSU has secured forwards Kate Koval (Notre Dame) and Amiya Joyner (East Carolina) from the portal. They are also in a heated battle with UConn for Wisconsin standout Serah Williams. If the Tigers land her, they’ll move from “very good” to firmly among the nation’s true title contenders.
Regardless, Fulwiley’s move from South Carolina to LSU has already shifted the landscape. When the Gamecocks travel to Baton Rouge in the upcoming season — schedule pending — emotions will be sky-high.
The LSU-South Carolina matchup was already must-see. Now, with Fulwiley switching sides, it’s about to become unmissable.
