The women’s basketball schedule in the SEC won’t be released for several more months, but when they come out, people will want to circle one more interesting matchup: in South Carolina LSU.
The Gamecocks have won 17 consecutive times against the Tigers, making it difficult to call the series a true rivalry. However, since Kim Mulkey arrived in Baton Rouge in 2021, these two programs have been the best in the SEC. Probably the best meeting in women’s college basketball. And when two teams meet, they usually attract a large audience for the sport. This past season – despite the game’s upside down during an unconventional time of Friday at 5pm due to bad weather, peak viewers of 1.1 million fans have been tuned, making it one of the five most viewed regular season games on all networks.
Both sides also met in the memorable 2024-second tournament final. And Milaysia Fulwiley was a big reason the Gamecocks won as they scored 24 points and won tournament MVP honors.
However, Fully Wiley traded her garnet for black for purple and gold.
Certainly, she will play on the other side of this rivalry next season, adding another storyline to the already anticipated matchup.
Fulwiley announced Friday afternoon that she had committed to LSU after spending around two weeks on the transfer portal. Rising Junior Guard will partner with Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams to see it as a starting lineup featuring at least three security guards next season.
“She brings her incredible playmaking ability to Baton Rouge and stands out as one of the most inspiring talents in college basketball,” Markey said in a statement. “Her ability to influence her victory was evident throughout her career.”
Over the past two seasons in South Carolina, the 5-foot-10 native from Columbia has shown a flash of her otherworldly athleticism and incredible talent. Her sw walking, creativity and ability to turn her head have revealed that she could become one of the stars of the sport. Under Armour and Red Bull thought so as they signed her to a Nir deal.
However, Fullwiley’s development appeared to stall as a sophomore under Dawn Staley. She played just 0.5 minutes per game and never started this past season, and many of her statistics have deteriorated as a sophomore. Still, there was one time when Staley turned his team key to Fulwiley in a critical game, and the electric guard led the Gamecocks to victory. In particular, she scored 23 points and five rebounds in a four-point victory at Maryland in the Sweet 16.
Fullwiley’s lack of growth in role and playing time led to chatter between fans and media members, speculating whether she would enter the transfer portal. Those whispers turned completely into throat screams after South Carolina landed FloridaTa’niya Latson, who plays the same position as Fulwiley, announced through the portal that Raven Johnson will be returning for another season. In fact, within a week of Rutson’s signing with the Gamecock, Fullwiley entered the portal.
Fulwiley entered the forwarding portal with the “Don’t Contact” tag. A source familiar with her situation told SB Nation. Sources said LSU was the only programme that Fullwily visited during the portal.
This offseason was one of the changes in LSU’s roster after the Tigers fell to the Elite 8 for their second straight win. Anesa Morrow went to WNBAShayan Day Wilson has exhausted her qualifications and players such as Sa’myah Smith, Jersey Wolfenbarger, Last-Tear Poa, and Mjracle Sheppard have entered the transfer portal.
But Johnson and Williams are back, Fullwiley and Notre DameKate Cobalt of the group arrives and two recruits ranked in ESPN’s top 10, Grace Knox and Zakiya Johnson, will bolster the LSU roster, which hopes to compete with the SEC Crown for the final four berth. LSU is also one of the programs being considered by Wisconsin Transfer Thera Williams, a 6-foot-4 junior forward who was the first team All-Big 10 selection this season.
Another thing worth mentioning about Fulwiley’s move to LSU is that you can continue trading with Under Armour’s curry brand, but you won’t be able to wear Curry 2 Flotro Low PE, inspired by the nickname in games and warm-ups. That’s because LSU has a contract with Nike to equip the entire athletic division. Nike is already proven by her lack of permission for Cooper Flag to wear New Balance at Duke. Similarly, Johnson has no contract with PUMA, but wears Nike during the LSU game.
But being at Nike’s school allowed Fullwiley to wear the signature shoes of former South Carolina star Aja Wilson. Fulwiley’s matchup against the Gamecocks in a pair of A’ones only added more spice to this rival.
