It’s no secret that MiLaysia Fulwiley is one of the most electrifying players in women’s college basketball. The former South Carolina standout — now with the No. 5-ranked LSU Tigers — has already made her presence felt, but the question remains: where exactly does she fit in Kim Mulkey’s stacked lineup?
Will she start or come off the bench? For Mulkey, those details are secondary.
“I don’t know,” Mulkey said after LSU’s first exhibition game. “But it doesn’t matter to me. She’s gonna play.”
Fulwiley came off the bench in LSU’s dominant 148–46 exhibition win over Mississippi College, much like her days at South Carolina, where she started just three of 77 career games. Still, she made a huge impact in limited minutes — scoring 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while adding four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in just 15 minutes of action.
Only one LSU player, freshman ZaKiyah Johnson, outscored her on the night with 25 points.
Meanwhile, sophomore Jada Richard earned the starting point guard spot and impressed her coach with her growth.
“(Richard’s) just a completely different player,” Mulkey said.
Richard notched nine points, four rebounds, and six assists without a single turnover — something Mulkey praised heavily.
Fulwiley, who played both on the wing and as the primary ballhandler, is still adjusting to her dual role — a transition Mulkey hinted at when preseason practices began.
“(Fulwiley) and Jada are gonna play together,” Mulkey explained. “And it doesn’t matter. You just want to be in that rotation of eight and play extended minutes.”
Despite Fulwiley’s star power and status as one of the nation’s top transfers, Mulkey made it clear that no starting roles were guaranteed.
“That’s not how it operates,” Mulkey said. “I play to win. Jada’s gonna give her a bit of what she needs to compete at that position, and man, they both bring good stuff to the table.”
The Tigers still have time to fine-tune their rotation before their season opener against Houston Christian on Nov. 4. With Fulwiley’s dynamic athleticism and ability to score from anywhere on the court, LSU’s backcourt promises to be one of the most exciting in the country — even as the roles continue to take shape.
“Learning point guard is probably a little challenging right now,” Mulkey added. “She’s always been the recipient of the pass on the wing, and now I’m trying to get her to do what Jada does.
Jada’s been a point guard all her life, and I want (Fulwiley) to be able to go to either position comfortably. She’s not comfortable yet.”
Whether she’s running the show or lighting up the scoreboard from the wing, one thing is certain — MiLaysia Fulwiley will be hard to keep off the floor.
