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Kim Mulkey on Landing MiLaysia Fulwiley: “It Didn’t Take Much” as Ex-Gamecock Joins LSU
MiLaysia Fulwiley, one of the most electrifying young guards in college basketball, made headlines when she announced her decision to leave Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks for Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers. According to Mulkey, bringing the former five-star recruit to Baton Rouge was a surprisingly smooth process.
“It didn’t take much,” Mulkey said on the Get Gordon Podcast. “I think I spoke to her and her mother one time, one time. She has not even come here on a visit.”
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲:
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀. 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.Bestseller #2Bestseller #3
Fulwiley, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, entered the transfer portal on April 17. Just eight days later, on April 25, she announced her commitment to LSU. Although the school officially confirmed her signing that same day, On3Sports’ Talia Goodman reported Fulwiley had already signed with the program on the day she entered the portal.
Mulkey credited the guard’s decision to her own diligence.
“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… and I think she pretty much had her mind made up.”
Though Fulwiley hasn’t revealed publicly why she left South Carolina, many speculate her motivation came from a desire for more playing time. As a sophomore, she averaged 18.9 minutes per game — just 9th on the team — despite being a major contributor off the bench.
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲:
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀. 𝗜 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂.
Mulkey certainly knows Fulwiley’s potential — and her impact against the Tigers.
“Every time we’ve played South Carolina, she in particular has kicked our rear end,” Mulkey admitted. “Whether it be a regular season game or the SEC Tournament, she just was special every time she played LSU.”
In three career games against LSU, Fulwiley averaged 13.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and two steals. She torched the Tigers for 24 points during the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship, helping the Gamecocks secure the title.
Dawn Staley once called her a “generational star.” Fulwiley played a key role in South Carolina’s 2024 national championship, appearing in 76 games and starting just three — yet still finishing second on the team in scoring last season with 11.8 points per game. She earned SEC Sixth Woman of the Year honors for her efforts.
Now, she brings her explosive game and flair to an already loaded LSU roster.
“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… I can get her on that floor.”
