South Carolina’s Dawn Staley Reflects on Season and MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Departure to LSU
The South Carolina women’s basketball team, under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, came agonizingly close to a national title last season, advancing through a dominant NCAA Tournament run. The Gamecocks claimed victories over Tennessee Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Duke, and Texas, before facing a tough loss in the championship game to Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies, falling 82-59.
In the wake of that defeat, Staley and her staff turned their focus toward maintaining a championship-caliber roster. But despite their efforts, they faced a significant setback when standout guard MiLaysia Fulwiley entered the transfer portal and committed to Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers.
Speaking on Fulwiley’s surprising exit, Staley expressed nothing but support for her former player.
“I think being in this space, you become to expect the unexpected,” Staley said. “I still have much love for MiLaysia, much love, like I want her happy. She and her mom came in and she said, ‘I think I’m going to get into the transfer portal…’ I really do only want our players happy. Like I do, whether that’s with us or somewhere else. Just be happy. I told her, don’t look back. I know it’s going to be hard to not look back, you leaving your hometown and all that. I said don’t look back. You’re always going to be a Gamecock. You’re always going to be welcomed here.”
Fulwiley, a Columbia native, had quickly become one of the top guards in women’s college basketball during her two seasons with South Carolina. Now, she’s set to join forces with fellow standout Flau’jae Johnson in a star-studded backcourt for LSU, adding even more intrigue to the growing rivalry between the two powerhouse programs.
