The Big Lead

South Carolina star MiLaysia Fulwiley shocks basketball world by entering transfer portal

By Sam Westmoreland

Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (12) drives to the basket against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley (12) drives to the basket against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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South Carolina Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley shocked the college basketball world on Friday, when Lulu Kesin of the Greenville News reported the talented sophomore would enter the transfer portal.

Fulwiley was a key cog in the Gamecocks' 2024 national title run, and was expected to be a crucial piece of a title run again this season in Columbia once more this season. But her second season under head coach Dawn Staley didn't bring the leap that many had hoped to see for the talented guard.

She averaged 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals per game this year, numbers that were virtually identical to her production last season for the Gamecocks. She, like the rest of South Carolina's team, struggled to find consistent offensive rhythm this season, and shot just 25.8 percent from three point range.

Those struggles were particularly highlighted in the NCAA Tournament. Fulwiley scored 15 against 16 seeded Tennessee Tech, and 23 against fourth seeded Maryland, but saw her playing time and production take significant hits in the Gamecocks' other four games. She scored nine points in just 18 minutes of game time against UConn in the national title game, and played just 11 minutes and scored just five points against Duke, in a game where her scoring touch was desperately needed.

Fulwiley figures to be one of the most coveted names in the portal this offseason, despite her inconsistent play under Staley in her second season. She's a former five-star recruit who still has a knack for filling up the stat sheet when given consistent run, and could be a difference maker for a number of teams around the country this offseason.

While the transfer is shocking, it's unlikely to cause Staley and South Carolina to lose much sleep. They landed top transfer prospect Ta'Niya Latson, who was the nation's leading scorer last season at Florida State. If that wasn't enough, the nation's fourth-ranked overall prospect, combo guard Agot Makeer is also heading to Columbia, meaning the Gamecocks have plenty of weapons ready to replace Fulwiley next season.

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