Dawn Staley Breaks Silence on MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Stunning Transfer From South Carolina to Rival LSU Women’s Basketball Team

Dawn Staley has never been one to shy away from addressing the tough moments, and MiLaysia Fulwiley’s departure from the South Carolina women’s basketball program certainly qualifies. Just weeks after Fulwiley declared her return for the 2025-26 season in a social media post that thrilled Gamecock fans, the rising sophomore stunned the women’s college basketball world by entering the transfer portal and ultimately committing to LSU. On Friday, Staley addressed the decision publicly for the first time, delivering a message that was equal parts graceful, candid, and unmistakably reflective of the values she’s built her program upon.

“I love MiLaysia. I always will,” Staley began, her tone calm but resolute. “She’s a special talent, and more importantly, she’s a special young woman. Her decision to transfer doesn’t erase that. It doesn’t change the memories we made or the joy she brought to our team and our fans. I respect her decision, even if it hurts.”

Fulwiley, a Columbia, South Carolina native and McDonald’s All-American, had been a hometown hero since committing to the Gamecocks out of W.J. Keenan High School. Her dazzling ball-handling and flair for the dramatic made her one of the most electric freshmen in the nation. Though she played in a reserve role on South Carolina’s national championship team, she averaged 11.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, becoming a fan favorite and a viral sensation for her jaw-dropping highlights.

That’s part of what makes her decision to leave all the more shocking — not just because of what she meant to the program, but because she chose LSU, South Carolina’s fiercest rival under Kim Mulkey’s leadership. The Gamecocks and Tigers have shared the top tier of the SEC for the past few seasons, often battling in heated, high-stakes matchups filled with elite talent and animosity. That Fulwiley would jump from one side of the rivalry to the other adds fuel to a fire that was already burning hot.

“Do I wish she was still with us? Absolutely,” Staley said. “But my job as a coach — as someone who says she loves her players like family — is to support them, even when their path takes them somewhere else. We’re going to compete with whoever suits up for us, and MiLaysia’s going to do the same on her new team. That’s the nature of the game now.”

Indeed, the transfer portal has radically altered the landscape of college sports, and women’s basketball is no exception. Player movement has become a regular part of the offseason, and even national championship programs like South Carolina aren’t immune. But few anticipated Fulwiley, so tied to the identity of Columbia and the Gamecocks, would be part of that movement.

Sources close to the situation indicated the decision was driven by a desire for an expanded role and more creative freedom on the floor. LSU, retooling after the departures of Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith to the WNBA, can offer Fulwiley a starting point guard role and the chance to become the centerpiece of Mulkey’s offense. For a player as skilled and stylistically bold as Fulwiley, the opportunity to lead a high-octane team could prove irresistible.

Still, for Staley, the departure isn’t just about basketball. It’s about the emotional connection — the investment made in a player whose development she nurtured long before Fulwiley wore a South Carolina uniform.

“I’ve known MiLaysia since she was a little girl coming to our camps,” Staley said. “We watched her grow up. We envisioned a future where she became the face of this program. So yeah, this one stings a little more than most. But that’s life. Sometimes people we love take a different route, and we still have to wish them well.”

Staley’s handling of the situation reflects the culture she’s built — one centered on honesty, empowerment, and loyalty, not just to the program, but to the athletes as individuals. Even as the rivalry with LSU intensifies, she’s choosing not to let bitterness or resentment overshadow her respect for Fulwiley.

“I told her she’s got to keep being her. Don’t lose that flair, don’t lose that confidence. Just because you’re somewhere else doesn’t mean you stop being the player we knew you could be. I’ll be rooting for her — not against her team, but for her to be great. That’s what love is supposed to look like.”

The timing of Fulwiley’s exit is also a major narrative twist. Coming off an undefeated national championship season, South Carolina was expected to be a near-lock preseason No. 1 again in 2025-26. Fulwiley returning alongside fellow standout freshmen like Tessa Johnson and Chloe Kitts promised another year of dominance. Her departure creates both a void and an opportunity.

Staley is well aware that losing a player of Fulwiley’s caliber shifts the dynamic. But she made it clear that South Carolina won’t be lacking for talent or motivation.

“This program is bigger than any one player — even a player as talented as MiLaysia,” she said. “We’ve been here before. We’ve lost All-Americans to the pros, to injuries, to transfers. And every time, somebody else steps up. That’s what makes this culture strong. We build each other up. We adapt. We grow.”

The Gamecocks still return plenty of firepower, including 6-foot-7 rising sophomore center Ashlyn Watkins, dynamic wing Raven Johnson, and the aforementioned Johnson and Kitts. They’ve also landed key additions via the portal and incoming recruits. Still, there’s no denying Fulwiley’s exit changes the outlook.

Meanwhile, over in Baton Rouge, Kim Mulkey is celebrating the addition of a player who could instantly elevate the Tigers back into title contention. Fulwiley’s ball-handling and shot-creation make her a perfect fit for Mulkey’s system, and her presence will undoubtedly add intrigue to the SEC slate — particularly when LSU and South Carolina meet in what’s sure to be a nationally televised, emotionally charged showdown.

Staley, for her part, isn’t looking ahead to that game just yet. When asked how she would handle coaching against Fulwiley, she paused.

“It’ll be weird, no doubt. Seeing her in purple and gold after all the time she spent in garnet and black… that’s going to be emotional. But we’ll compete. We’ll coach. We’ll play. And when the game ends, I’ll hug her just the same.”

For a fan base that’s understandably reeling from the decision, Staley’s words serve as a stabilizing force. Her approach — acknowledging the pain while refusing to let it foster animosity — is one that not only honors Fulwiley’s contribution, but also reinforces what has made South Carolina a model program.

“She helped us win a national championship,” Staley said. “She gave us unforgettable moments. No one can take that away. And nothing she does moving forward can change what she meant to this program. That’s permanent.”

Whether or not Gamecock fans are ready to forgive or forget is another matter entirely. Social media has been flooded with disappointment and disbelief, some of it directed at Fulwiley, some of it questioning what more South Carolina could have done. But for Staley, the only path forward is to lead with grace — and to keep building.

“We’re going to be fine,” she said. “South Carolina women’s basketball is going to be just fine. We’ve got amazing players, an amazing staff, and a standard that doesn’t change because of one decision. And MiLaysia — she’s going to do great things too. I’m proud of her. I’ll always be proud of her.”

In a college basketball landscape increasingly defined by volatility and movement, Dawn Staley remains a steady, principled figure. She may have just lost one of her brightest stars, but the light she brings to the sport — and to the players who pass through her program — shines brighter still.