Projecting the 2025 LSU women's basketball starting lineup after transfer season

USA Today

09-05-2025

Projecting the 2025 LSU women's basketball starting lineup after transfer season
LSU women's basketball added multiple players to its roster during the spring transfer portal window and said goodbye to some high-level contributors from last season.
All-American Aneesah Morrow departed for the WNBA, while fellow forwards Sa'Myah Smith and Jersey Wolfenbarger moved on to other teams. Luckily, the Tigers return their two biggest backcourt contributors from last season, who both averaged double-digit scoring, and bring in highly-touted newcomers.
With the top 2026 recruiting class coming in along with three transfers, the competition for playing time under head coach Kim Mulkey will be fierce. She needs to construct a new frontcourt and set a rotation on the perimeter that features her returning scorers. MiLaysia Fulwiley and Kailyn Gilbert will both contend for minutes at the guard spots.
For a team that holds championship aspirations, LSU needs to build chemistry quickly and establish rhythm moving the ball around the perimeter and through the lane. Without the double-double machine that Morrow was, the Tigers need to find their next paint presence as a rebounder and scorer.
Here is a projected starting lineup for LSU's first game of the season.
MiLaysia Fulwiley, Point Guard
Fulwiley transferred to LSU from South Carolina for a chance to start on an SEC team. She'll earn that shot under Mulkey, who will allow her to show off her creativity on the offensive end and in transition. She averaged 11.7 points per game in each of her two seasons as a Gamecock.
While she has much to improve on defensively, Fulwiley is a shoo-in to start for the Tigers. She combines individual excellence as a scorer with high-pressure postseason experience, winning a national championship and another Final Four game in her young career.
Flau'Jae Johnson, Guard
Johnson came back for her senior year to win a second NCAA Tournament title for the Tigers. She started from the second she arrived on campus as a freshman and helped lead LSU to the first national championship. After an injury hindered her postseason in 2024-25, she's hungry for wins.
The All-American and First Team All-SEC selection led the team in scoring for much of 2024-25, averaging 18.6 points per contest on 47% shooting from the field. Johnson is the undisputed leader for the upcoming year.
Mikaylah Williams, Guard
Williams enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, cementing herself as a scoring threat and paint presence. She showed off her ball-handling skills as LSU lacked a true point guard last season while also mixing it up in the paint. Expect her to take another huge step, especially if the Tigers don't get the paint production needed out of their forwards.
With 17.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2024-25, Williams often came alive in late game scenarios. She hit multiple last-minute shots in SEC play, including at Alabama to force overtime. With big game experience and individual success, Williams will reclaim her starting spot as a junior.
Grace Knox, Forward
A McDonald's All-American, Knox comes in as a proven scorer and rebounder. As a junior, she came back from a season-long injury to average 17.2 points and 11.9 rebounds while leading her team to state and national championships. At six-foot-three, Knox contributes in all facets offensively, driving the paint in transition and finishing through contact. The Las Vegas native uses her frame to compete on the glass and challenge shots.
The SEC boasts some of the nation's biggest forwards and Knox will need to prove she can be physical inside. Mulkey is not afraid to play first-year collegiate players immediately, especially those as gifted as Knox.
Kate Koval, Center
Koval completes the retooled pairing down low for LSU. She turned in a strong freshman season as she totaled 55 blocks with averages of 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game for Notre Dame. Primarily a reserve, she averaged 18 minutes per game and saw lots of time in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.
A highly-touted high school prospect, Koval was down to the Fighting Irish and Tigers in her process. Alignment with Mulkey will take her far in terms of furthering her development as a scoring threat. She's an easy choice for LSU's front court leader.