Kim Mulkey during the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Baton Rouge. Scott Clause / USA TODAY NETWORK

Kim Mulkey, LSU Women's Basketball Emerging as Contender for Elite Five-Star Recruit

Originally posted on LSU Tigers on SI | By Zack Nagy | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 1:17 PM ET

Tacoma (Wash.) Elite Sports Academy five-star power forward Oliviyah Edwards has emerged as one of the top prospects in the 2026 Recruiting Cycle with multiple powerhouse programs in the mix.

Edwards, the No. 2 overall recruit in America, has begun evaluating the contenders in her process with an official visit slate beginning to take shape.

The 6-foot-3 phenom has taken social media by storm with her ability to dunk while showcasing elite athleticism in-game.

“I used to not think about it, but now that the game is evolving, I do think I want to see myself — I do want to dunk more,” Edwards said. “I do. I do think it'll make women's basketball watchable too.

"I think I see people talking about how, like, oh, women don't do this. This is why we watch men's and I just feel like, if I can bring more eyes to women's basketball, I feel like that gives more opportunity to everybody.”

Edwards has taken trips across the country already, but with the fall approaching, she's beginning to lock in multi-day stays.

Recruitment Breakdown https://t.co/LKfkfFI20T pic.twitter.com/SidzpYnfVA
— Oliviyah “Big Oh” Edwards (@EdwardsOliviyah) August 6, 2025

Despite preparing to take officials, Edwards won't rush the process. She's set to take her time and will evaluate all the moving parts across college basketball.

"I am going to push (the decision) as far back as possible," Edwards said. "With coaches (movement) and the transfer portal, I want to wait and see what it looks like. I don't want to commit too early. So I am probably going to do it next summer."

Now, Edwards has solidified an official trip to Baton Rouge in the coming months.

The five-star prospect will be in the Bayou State in October for a three-day trip spanning from October 9-12.

Edwards has also locked in trips to see the Tennessee Volunteers and South Carolina Gamecocks for this fall with contenders emerging in the Washington native's process.

The top-ranked power forward in America is eyeing a big-time senior campaign in order to sharpen her skill set prior to college ball.

"To be honest, I just want to get better,' Edwards said. "It would be fun to do that (receive national acclaim), but I don't think that's a goal in my mind.

"In my mind, I just want to be prepared for when I go to college. That is really what I am focusing on, and I'll just let everything else come to me."

LSU is coming off of signing the No. 1 rated class in the 2025 Recruiting Cycle headlined by a pair of McDonald's All-Americans.