Breaking: After departing South Carolina, MiLaysia Fulwiley appears on the transfer site with a “do not contact” tag, suggesting she already knows what she is going to do.

Breaking: After departing South Carolina, MiLaysia Fulwiley appears on the transfer site with a “do not contact” tag, suggesting she already knows what she is going to do.

MiLaysia Fulwiley, a guard for South Carolina, joined the NCAA transfer portal with a “do not contact” label, indicating that she has probably already decided where she wants to go. This is a startling move that has rocked women’s college basketball.

Questions about the future of one of the program’s most exciting young prospects are immediately raised by the transfer, which comes just weeks after the Gamecocks finished an unprecedented season without a loss in the national title. A dynamic 5’7″ point guard, Fulwiley was a vital member of Dawn Staley’s team off the bench. Her bursts of skill made her one of the nation’s most exciting

In just 11.7 minutes per game, Fulwiley averaged 5.7 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 rebounds during her promising freshman season at South Carolina. Despite having little playing time on a squad full of All-Americans like Te-Hina Paopao and Kamilla Cardoso, Fulwiley quickly became a fan favorite for to her speed, ball control, and fearless attacking style. She showed off her star potential in November when she scored 17 points in just 14 minutes against Notre Dame, who was ranked 10th at the time. But as the season went on, her position changed, and with South Carolina returning almost all of its core the following season and bringing In.

The “do not contact” label attached to her portal entry is particularly intriguing. This designation is often used when a player has already zeroed in on a specific school and does not want to be recruited by other programs. In Fulwiley’s case, it fuels speculation that she may have been in discussions with another program before officially entering the portal, possibly even securing a commitment behind the scenes. Given her talent and profile, several powerhouse programs would undoubtedly be interested, with schools like LSU, UConn, Ohio State, and USC likely at the top of the list. LSU, in particular, has been aggressive in the transfer portal under Kim Mulkey and could offer Fulwiley a more prominent role in its fast-paced system. Meanwhile, UConn’s need for guard depth and Geno Auriemma’s track record of developing elite playmakers could make the Huskies an appealing option.

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities might have played a role in Fulwiley’s choice as well. She is unquestionably marketable as one of the most well-known young guards in the sport, and a program with a strong NIL collective would have offered an alluring financial package.

Another motivating factor would have been the opportunity to be “the star” of a team rather than a rotational player at South Carolina. Even though there are indisputable advantages to playing for a championship program like the Gamecocks, some players—especially those who aspire to be professionals—

Although Fulwiley’s departure will result in a significant loss of backcourt depth for South Carolina, it will not stop the program from aiming for a championship because Staley has created a juggernaut that reloads rather than rebuilds, and the Gamecocks still have a loaded roster with Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, and incoming top recruit Joyce

Edwards. Nevertheless, Fulwiley’s potential was undeniable, and her absence means that South Carolina will have to rely more on its other guards to fill the void. Her next stop will be closely watched; if she chooses a program that is on the rise, she could instantly become a focal point of their offense; if she chooses a program