The nation’s best female basketball player choose to play for the LSU Tigers rather than the Auburn Tigers.

In the ever-competitive world of NCAA women’s basketball, few recruiting decisions send ripples through the sport quite like this one. The nation’s top-ranked high school player — a generational phenom whose talent has drawn comparisons to legends like Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore — has chosen to take her talents to Baton Rouge. The LSU Tigers, under the stewardship of head coach Kim Mulkey, have beaten out a strong push from the Auburn Tigers and several other national powerhouses to secure the commitment of the most coveted player in the 2025 recruiting class.

The decision is not just a major win for LSU’s already star-studded program, but a defining moment that could reshape the competitive landscape of the SEC and the national championship race for years to come. For Auburn, it’s a painful miss, one that underscores both how far the program has come under its current leadership and how much further it still must go to consistently compete for the elite of the elite.

This is the story of a recruitment battle packed with tension, star power, and the gravity of legacy.

Hailing from Houston, Texas, 6-foot-2 combo guard Janiya Blake has long been a household name among basketball insiders. Known for her silky-smooth handle, three-level scoring, and defensive prowess, Blake has headlined USA Basketball youth teams and shattered Texas high school records. Her averages in her senior season — 32.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists, and 3.2 steals per game — read like a video game stat line.

She was courted by virtually every program in the country. From UConn and South Carolina to Stanford and Notre Dame, the blue bloods lined up for a chance. But it was LSU and Auburn who made the final cut, largely because of two compelling and very different pitches.

LSU: CHASING DYNASTY WITH KIM MULKEY

When LSU hired Kim Mulkey away from Baylor in 2021, the goal was simple — win national titles. Mulkey has done just that, securing LSU’s first-ever women’s basketball national championship in 2023 and reloading with an unparalleled blend of elite freshmen and transfer portal gold.

Blake’s decision to join LSU aligns with the culture of championship-or-bust that Mulkey has meticulously built. It was the allure of playing under one of the most decorated coaches in the sport, alongside top-tier talent, that proved too good to pass up.

“Coach Mulkey told me, ‘You’re the missing piece to another ring,’” Blake said in an exclusive interview following her announcement. “I believe her. I believe in what LSU is building. And I want to be part of history.”

Blake’s commitment now gives LSU the No. 1 overall recruiting class in the country — again — and elevates them to the presumptive title favorites for 2026 and beyond.

Meanwhile, Auburn — under the guidance of second-year head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson — had mounted a surprising and aggressive push to land Blake. The Tigers, coming off their first Sweet 16 appearance in over a decade, pitched a vision of being the star in a system built around her.

“They made me feel like family,” Blake admitted. “Auburn was a very close second. Coach Freeman-Jackson is building something real there, and I have so much respect for her.”

Auburn had the facilities, the NIL backing, and a fervent fan base ready to embrace Blake as a savior. Their run in the SEC last season, highlighted by upsets over Tennessee and Ole Miss, showed the kind of momentum the program had built. But in the end, the proximity of playing with other five-star recruits — and a legitimate path to multiple Final Fours — tilted the scale toward LSU.

Sources close to the recruitment reveal that Blake also leaned on current LSU players during her visit to Baton Rouge. Star forward Flau’jae Johnson and returning All-American Mikaylah Williams both made it a mission to sell Blake on joining the dynasty.

It would be naïve to ignore the role that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) played in the decision. LSU has built a national brand as one of the top programs in terms of NIL opportunities for female athletes. From Angel Reese’s high-profile deals to Flau’jae Johnson’s crossover into the music industry, Baton Rouge has become the epicenter of women’s basketball visibility.

Sources suggest that Blake received multiple seven-figure NIL offers from competing schools, but LSU’s combination of financial opportunity and basketball success proved unmatched.

“What Janiya wants is bigger than basketball,” said her father, Damon Blake. “She wants to build a brand, inspire the next generation, and win championships. LSU gives her all three.”

Auburn, despite considerable NIL growth and improved infrastructure, simply couldn’t match LSU’s established track record in that realm — at least not yet.

With Blake in the fold, LSU’s backcourt becomes nothing short of terrifying. She’ll likely share the floor with Mikaylah Williams, who has emerged as one of the nation’s best shooting guards, and sophomore phenom Janae Kent.

Mulkey now has the luxury of staggering elite guards and wings in lineups that are positionless, aggressive, and suffocating on defense. With Reese now in the WNBA, the Tigers are transitioning into a new era — and Blake’s commitment marks the dawn of that next chapter.

Expectations will be nothing short of national title or bust.

For Auburn, this stings — but it also proves just how far they’ve come. The Tigers weren’t even in the mix for top-5 recruits as recently as three seasons ago. Now, they’re one signature away from flipping the sport on its head.

Freeman-Jackson isn’t giving up. The Tigers are expected to remain aggressive in the portal and are still in play for other five-star recruits, including forward Serenity Walker (No. 7 nationally) and point guard Crystal Hart (No. 12).

“We’re going to keep building,” Freeman-Jackson said. “One player doesn’t define our program. But we will get one like her — soon.”

The mission now for Auburn is to prove that they can win without Blake, and use that success to land the next top recruit who may be watching from the shadows.

The commitment rocked social media. ESPN’s Andraya Carter called it “a dynasty-maker.” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley weighed in, tweeting, “The SEC just keeps getting deeper. Congrats to Kim and LSU.”

Even NBA players took notice. Ja Morant tweeted, “She cold. LSU up again.”

The moment has galvanized LSU’s fan base and sent a message to every program in the country: the Tigers are here to stay — and they’re not satisfied with just one title.

Blake is already being projected as a future No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick, and she hasn’t even touched a college court yet. LSU plans to build around her for the next two or three seasons, depending on whether she turns pro early.

Her game is mature beyond her years. Her leadership, already visible at the high school level, is expected to translate immediately. Scouts rave about her “relentless drive” and “killer instinct in clutch moments.” Mulkey called her “the most complete player I’ve ever recruited.”

The pressure will be immense, but so is the potential.

In choosing LSU over Auburn, Janiya Blake didn’t just make a personal decision — she shaped the next era of women’s college basketball. LSU gets a generational talent to continue its rise as the sport’s new epicenter. Auburn gains national credibility, even in loss, for being a finalist in one of the biggest recruiting battles of the decade.