Star guard MiLaysia Fulwiley addressed why she left South Carolina women’s basketball and transferred to LSU.
Fulwiley, a 5-foot-10 junior spent two seasons with Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks before joining the Tigers in April. In an interviewed for Sports Illustrated’s digital show “Around the W” that was published Sept. 1, she was asked why she made that decision.
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“South Carolina is a great program, I’m from there, I’ve been there my whole life,” Fulwiley said, referring to the fact that she grew up just 15 minutes from campus. “I kind of just felt like I needed a new environment, a new fresh start. Everyone deserves a new fresh start.”
Fulwiley was often first off the bench for Staley, and finished 2024-25 second on the team in points per game with 11.7. The Gamecocks lost three starters this season, two of which were guards in Bree Hall and Te-Hina Paopao.
“While you’re in college and you have the opportunity to leave, I think it’s the best time to do it,” Fulwiley said. “In the (WNBA) you can’t just say, ‘Oh, I want to leave.’ I think it was more of me just wanting a different environment and seeing my goals and seeing where I want to be and how those things with align in my career and felt like that would be the best move.”
On April 11, The Greenville News reported that she planned to enter the portal and on April 25, she announced she would play for Kim Mulkey in Baton Rouge.
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Ta’Niya Latson, who led the nation in scoring last year (25.2 ppg) transferred to South Carolina on April 8, the same day starting point guard Raven Johnson announced she was returning for another season.
Staley spoke about Fulwiley’s exit for the first time in May during a radio interview while on a tour promoting her new book. She said she wasn’t surprised when Fulwiley told her she’d be entering the portal.
“I think being in this space, you become to expect the unexpected,” Staley said. “I still have much love for MiLaysia, much love. I want her happy.”
The Gamecocks travel to LSU on Feb. 14, 2026.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why MiLaysia Fulwiley left South Carolina, Dawn Staley, transferred to LSU
