When MiLaysia Fulwiley hit the transfer portal with a “Do Not Contact” label, you can bet Kim Mulkey was already picking out the party playlist. On3 had LSU pegged as the “strong frontrunners,” and with Aneesah Morrow gone, the Tigers were in serious need of a dynamic guard to reshape their offense. But history hasn’t always been kind to transfer guards at LSU. Just ask Hailey Van Lith. So, will MiLaysia Fulwiley’s story in Baton Rouge be any different than Hailey Van Lith’s? Only time will tell. But HVL, now gearing up for her WNBA journey with the Chicago Sky, has some words of wisdom for the rising LSU star.

A dynamic 5’10” guard, MiLaysia Fulwiley, built a reputation as one of the most electrifying offensive talents in the country. Despite coming off the bench in all but three of her 77 games at South Carolina, she still managed to average 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals over two seasons. Fulwiley played a vital role in leading the Gamecocks to back-to-back Final Fours, including the 2024 national title. She was also the second top scorer for the Gamecocks this season, despite starting all her 38 games from the bench. It’s not surprising to see Mulkey go after her.

The Lady Tigers were on the hunt for a true floor general after losing some major backcourt firepower to the portal. With stars like Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams returning, LSU had plenty of talent—but they still needed a steady hand to run the offense. With this latest move, they may have found exactly what they were looking for! And HVL has some advice for the new Lady Tiger!

“Be who you are and have fun,” said Hailey Van Lith during a courtside interview when asked about MiLaysia Fulwiley joining LSU. Simple, yet powerful advice!

Hailey Van Lith had a tough time finding her rhythm with LSU’s loaded roster. She couldn’t quite match the scoring punch she had at Louisville, where she put up nearly 20 a night. So, she knows what it’s like trying to mesh with an already star-studded team. But for MiLaysia Fulwiley, the situation feels different. LSU needed a true point guard–and now they’ve got one. And with HVL’s words of wisdom in her back pocket, Fulwiley has everything she needs to thrive and be the best version of herself!

But not everyone’s sold on the move just yet. One legend who’s still on the fence? Lisa Leslie. The WNBA icon had some thoughts about the transfer. Let’s dive into what she had to say!

Lisa Leslie questions MiLaysia Fulwiley’s move to LSU

WNBA legend Lisa Leslie didn’t shy away from asking the big question–will the former South Carolina guard actually find the success she’s looking for at LSU? Speaking with Women’s Fastbreak on SI in a May 2 interview, Leslie gave her opinion about Fulwiley’s decision to leave South Carolina.

“Losing MiLaysia Fulwiley, that one I think is a little bit difficult. That hurts,” Leslie said, reacting to the Gamecocks’ portal losses. “But sometimes players don’t really have the patience to sit and stay in line. Everybody wants to play now, and they want to play the whole time. And I get it. It’s not that any kid shouldn’t want to, but we’ll see if the grass is greener on the other side.”

It will be interesting to see how Fulwiley performs for the Tigers, but her decision to leave South Carolina makes sense given the circumstances. With the Gamecocks bringing in Ta’Niya Latson, the top scorer in the country, Fulwiley likely faced the reality of starting from the bench once again. At LSU, however, she’s stepping into a starting role, and that can’t be a bad thing! It’s a fresh opportunity to showcase her skills and lead the backcourt of the Tigers.