South Carolina's Hometown Star MiLaysia Fulwiley Enters Transfer Portal After Historic Sophomore Season

MiLaysia Fulwiley, the electrifying guard who became a hometown hero for South Carolina’s back-to-back Final Four teams, plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, marking one of the most surprising offseason moves in women’s college basketball. The decision, first reported by ESPN and confirmed by multiple outlets, comes just weeks after the 5-foot-10 sophomore earned SEC Sixth Woman of the Year honors and helped the Gamecocks to a 35-4 record and national runner-up finish.

A Meteoric Rise and Sudden Exit Fulwiley, a Columbia native and former No. 13 national recruit, spent two seasons as a sparkplug off the bench for Dawn Staley’s powerhouse program. Despite starting just three of 77 career games, she averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, delivering highlight-reel plays that made her a fan favorite. Her freshman year included SEC Tournament MVP honors and a national championship, while her sophomore campaign saw her lock down SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and land on the All-SEC Second Team.

The timing of her departure raises questions about roster dynamics. South Carolina recently added former Florida State star Ta’Niya Latson, the nation’s leading scorer, to a backcourt already featuring All-Defensive Team guard Raven Johnson. Fulwiley’s role as a sixth woman—averaging 19 minutes per game this season—reportedly clashed with her aspirations for a larger spotlight.

Clutch Performances and Unfinished Business Fulwiley’s flair for the dramatic peaked in March. She dropped 23 points in the Sweet 16 against Maryland and matched her career-high 24 points against Vanderbilt, showcasing the audacious ball-handling and defensive tenacity that made her a finalist for the Dawn Staley Award. Her SEC Tournament showing, including lockdown defense and transition scoring, solidified her as a big-game threat.

The Transfer Market Frenzy As one of the portal’s most coveted guards, Fulwiley is expected to draw interest from elite programs like Texas, LSU, UCLA, and TCU—schools offering clearer paths to starter minutes and NIL opportunities. Her decision underscores the growing tension between team success and individual branding in the transfer portal era.

A Program at a Crossroads Staley, who once praised Fulwiley’s “gall” to attempt high-risk plays, now faces the challenge of reloading without her most dynamic perimeter weapon. The Gamecocks’ 2024-25 roster remains formidable, with All-SEC First Team freshman Joyce Edwards and veteran Te-Hina Paopao returning, but Fulwiley’s departure leaves a void in both scoring and star power.

For Fulwiley, the move represents a gamble to prove she can thrive as a centerpiece—a narrative that will dominate offseason discussions as the transfer portal reshapes the women’s basketball landscape.