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Kim Mulkey’s Strong Statement on Returning LSU Star Amid Transfer Portal Frenzy

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Robert Marvi | Last updated May 23, 2025 6:32 AM ET

The LSU Tigers were hoping to make a magical run in this year's women's NCAA Tournament after gaining the third seed in the SEC. But in the Elite Eight round, they ran into the UCLA Bruins and lost by a final score of 72-65.

They then lost a few key players in the transfer portal to other schools, while star forward Aneesaw Morrow entered the WNBA draft and now plays for the Connecticut Sun. However, guard Mikaylah Williams decided to stay put.

Head coach Kim Mulkey has said she doesn't have anything against players who leave their school via the transfer portal, but she did praise Williams for remaining with the Tigers.

“Mikaylah Williams stayed home when she could have gone anywhere in the country,” Mulkey said. “She stayed home because as you get to know here, there’s nothing pretentious about Mikayla… She loves her home state.”

"There's nothing pretentious about Mikaylah."

"She loves her family. She loves her home state." @LSUwbkb @KimMulkey on @mkwill12_, who will be counted on the lead #LSU next season alongside @Flaujae.

Complete interview - https://t.co/uHmzohj61j pic.twitter.com/xFm0kQsCON
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) May 22, 2025

Williams grew up in the Shreveport, La. area and starred in basketball, softball and track and field at Parkway High School. She reportedly received offers from Duke, Baylor, Texas A&M and Ole Miss to play basketball, but she decided to stay close to home by playing for LSU.

She is a rising star for the Tigers, having averaged 17.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists a game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range this past season. The year before that, she was named the SEC Freshman of the Year.

She's expected to be one of the first players, if not the first player, taken in the WNBA draft once she becomes eligible.

LSU won the national championship in 2023 just before Williams made her way there. It was the first time the school had won it all in women's basketball.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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