For weeks, the college basketball world has speculated wildly over MiLaysia Fulwiley’s jaw-dropping decision to enter the transfer portal and commit to LSU. Now, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has finally broken her silence—and her words are as powerful as they are revealing.
“This was never about basketball,” Staley said during an emotionally charged media session in Columbia. “And that’s what hurts the most.”
Fulwiley, the Columbia native and hometown star who had long been viewed as the future of South Carolina women’s basketball, stunned Gamecock Nation when she announced she was leaving the program after just one season. Her commitment to Kim Mulkey and LSU sent shockwaves not only through the SEC but across the national landscape. For Staley, it wasn’t just about losing a player—it was personal.
“I’ve known MiLaysia since she was a little girl. She was supposed to be the one to carry the torch,” Staley continued. “To wear that South Carolina jersey with pride. To lead us into the next generation of greatness. I believed in her. We all did.”
Fulwiley’s decision, while unexpected, didn’t happen in a vacuum. Reports had swirled for weeks that LSU was aggressively pursuing high-profile talent, and whispers of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) offers grew louder as the offseason progressed. While Staley stopped short of directly accusing LSU of tampering, she didn’t hold back in calling out what she sees as a broken system.
“Let’s be honest—this is the reality of college sports today,” Staley said. “The portal, the money, the outside influences… it’s changed everything. It’s not just about Xs and Os anymore. It’s about bank accounts, branding, leverage. And our young athletes are caught in the middle.”
At South Carolina, Fulwiley had just begun carving out her legacy. She flashed brilliance during her freshman campaign, dazzling fans with her athleticism, flair, and ability to take over games. Her fearless style made her a fan favorite and a key contributor in the Gamecocks’ journey to the 2025 Final Four. And with several upperclassmen moving on, the stage was set for Fulwiley to take the reins. That is—until she walked away.
“We didn’t see this coming. Not like this,” Staley admitted. “We thought we were building something special. We poured into her—not just as a player, but as a person. So yes, it stings. But more than that, it makes me ask: where are we going with this sport?”
While Fulwiley has yet to speak publicly about her motivations for transferring, sources close to the situation have hinted at friction behind the scenes. Some suggest she felt overshadowed by older players. Others point to NIL frustrations. And then, of course, there’s Kim Mulkey—a magnetic, polarizing force in women’s basketball who has made LSU the epicenter of star-studded recruiting and transfer activity.
“This ain’t a basketball move,” one SEC assistant coach told us anonymously. “This is a power move. Mulkey’s building a brand down there, and she’s not afraid to swing big.”
Indeed, LSU’s recent moves in the transfer portal have raised eyebrows across the country. With the departure of Angel Reese to the WNBA, many assumed LSU would be entering a rebuilding phase. Instead, Mulkey has reloaded with blue-chip talent, securing not just Fulwiley but also a string of other top-ranked recruits and transfers. The message is clear: LSU isn’t going anywhere.
Still, for Staley, the situation goes deeper than the wins and losses. It’s about trust, loyalty, and the invisible battles coaches fight every day to protect their programs and their players.
“People think coaching is just drawing up plays and cutting down nets,” she said. “But the real work happens behind closed doors. The mentoring. The late-night talks. The tears. The sacrifice. When someone walks away from all that without looking back, it forces you to reexamine everything.”
There’s also the local impact to consider. Fulwiley wasn’t just another athlete—she was Columbia’s own. Her success story was intertwined with the community. To see her leave not just the school, but the state, and join a conference rival, felt like a betrayal to some longtime fans.
“She was our girl,” said one tearful fan outside Colonial Life Arena. “We watched her grow up. We believed in her. And now she’s wearing purple and gold?”
But Dawn Staley, ever the leader, quickly redirected the conversation from disappointment to perspective.
“MiLaysia is still a young woman. She’s got dreams, she’s got people in her ear, and she’s got every right to make the decisions she feels are best for her,” Staley said. “I’m hurt, but I’m not bitter. I want her to succeed—even if it’s not in garnet and black.”
That sentiment—bittersweet as it may be—underscores the complex emotional terrain of modern college athletics. Loyalty is often fleeting. Identity is fluid. And for every coach fighting to build a lasting culture, there are forces pulling in the opposite direction.
“I’m not going to lie. This one hit different,” Staley added. “Because I loved that kid. And maybe I still do.”
The fallout from Fulwiley’s decision is still unfolding. Some believe it will ignite a new level of rivalry between LSU and South Carolina. Others see it as a tipping point—a moment when even the most grounded programs must reckon with the unpredictable tides of NIL and the portal era.
But for now, Staley is focused on moving forward. Her message to her remaining players was clear.
“If you’re here, be here. Don’t play both sides. Don’t chase clout. Build something real. That’s what we’re about.”
Recruiting efforts continue. New faces will emerge. And South Carolina—led by one of the most respected voices in the sport—will remain a powerhouse. But make no mistake: MiLaysia Fulwiley’s departure marks the end of an era.
“She had the keys to the kingdom,” Staley said, shaking her head. “She gave them back.”
As for the fans, reactions remain mixed. Some feel betrayed. Others are more forgiving. But nearly all agree that this saga shines a harsh light on the evolving—and at times unsettling—reality of college sports.
“This is a business now,” Staley said. “And it’s hard to watch it happen in real time.”
While Fulwiley gears up for her next chapter in Baton Rouge, her story in Columbia will linger like an unfinished verse. A hometown prodigy who left home. A coach who gave everything, only to watch her walk away. And a fanbase left to pick up the pieces.
Still, Dawn Staley remains steadfast in her belief that the Gamecock program will endure.
“We don’t beg people to stay. We build. We uplift. And we keep moving. Always.”
Even so, the pain in her voice was undeniable. The sense of loss. The quiet confusion. The ache of a once-unbreakable bond, now fractured.
“I don’t know what tomorrow holds,” Staley concluded. “But I know who we are. And I know we’ll be okay. Because we always are.”