5 Causes Why Daybreak Staley’s South Carolina Can Face Defeat by Kim Mulkey’s LSU in 2025
The rivalry between Daybreak Staley’s South Carolina and Kim Mulkey’s LSU obtained just a little spicier forward of the 2025 season, as MiLaysia Fulwiley determined to change sides and be a part of the Tigers. Listed below are 5 the explanation why the Gamecocks can lose to the Tigers this coming NCAA marketing campaign.
5 Causes Why Daybreak Staley’s South Carolina Can Lose to Kim Mulkey’s LSU in 2025
1. South Carolina misplaced key gamers this offseason
It isn’t simply MiLaysia Fulwiley who left South Carolina after the 2024-25 NCAA season. Daybreak Staley additionally misplaced three different key members of her roster who had been a part of the Gamecocks’ title-winning workforce final yr.
Te-Hina Paopao, Sania Feagin, and Bree Corridor have all graduated and used up their eligibility to play girls’s school basketball. Paopao averaged 9.4 factors per contest and led South Carolina in assists final season. Feagin averaged 8.1 factors per recreation and led the Gamecocks in blocks within the 2024-25 season. Corridor averaged 6.3 factors and three.0 rebounds in her last yr with South Carolina.
2. Daybreak Staley will miss MiLaysia Fulwiley’s bench manufacturing
South Carolina’s success previously two seasons wouldn’t be potential with out MiLaysia Fulwiley, who flourished in her bench function underneath Daybreak Staley. Fulwiley averaged 11.7 factors, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals by means of 77 video games in her South Carolina profession regardless of making simply three begins underneath Staley.
That manufacturing off the bench was essential in South Carolina reaching back-to-back NCAA title video games in 2024 and 2025. Staley will discover it troublesome to get that very same offensive influence from one in every of her reserves within the 2025-26 marketing campaign.
3. South Carolina should cope with LSU’s new Massive 3
Dropping Fulwiley is difficult sufficient for Daybreak Staley and South Carolina. Dropping her to Kim Mulkey and LSU by means of the switch portal makes it much more troublesome for the Gamecocks.
With Fulwiley becoming a member of Mulkey’s lineup, the LSU Tigers have assembled a brand new Massive 3 for the upcoming season. Fulwiley will workforce up with Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, giving Mulkey a potent attacking trio in her beginning 5.
Johnson and Williams averaged 18.6 and 17.3 factors per recreation, respectively, final season for LSU. They are going to be even tougher to cease subsequent season with Fulwiley on the ground alongside them.
4. Ashlyn Watkins gained’t be obtainable within the 2025-26 NCAA season
Ashlyn Watkins missed a big chunk of the 2024-25 NCAA season after she suffered a knee harm within the recreation towards Mississippi State on Jan. 5. Watkins tore the ACL in her left knee, chopping brief her once-promising marketing campaign. She averaged 7.2 factors, 6.1 boards, and 1.1 dimes by means of 14 video games final season. She was additionally a menace on the defensive finish, averaging 1.9 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest.
Watkins was anticipated to return to South Carolina’s lineup subsequent season, however she has determined to take day off basketball and sit out all the 2025-26 NCAA marketing campaign. Dropping Watkins is a big blow for the Gamecocks, who will miss her frontcourt presence.
5. LSU has strengthened its lineup with key additions this offseason
Kim Mulkey and his employees went to work this offseason after the LSU Tigers misplaced within the Elite Eight of the 2025 NCAA Match. Other than signing Fulwiley, the Tigers additionally bolstered their lineup by including Kate Koval and Amiya Joyner.
Additionally they have a number of incoming freshmen, together with Grace Knox, ZaKiyah Johnson, Divine Bourrage, Bella Hines, and Meghan Yarnevich. Knox and Johnson had been named Naismith Excessive All-People this yr.
KEEP READING:LSU Girls’s Basketball Schedule: High 5 Takeaways As MiLaysia Fulwiley Takes On New Function for Kim Mulkey’s Tigers
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