MiLaysia Fulwiley and the LSU Tigers couldn't avoid a defeat against Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks on March 7, but that didn't stop the Gamecocks HC, Dawn Staley, from lauding the LSU guard with a prestigious title.

LSU Tigers lost the SEC match to Gamecocks by 83–77. Still, Fulwiley put up a stellar performance, earning 24 points for her side, along with one rebound and 4 assists. During the post-game press conference, Staley couldn't help but appreciate the 20-year-old's valiant efforts even after her side's defeat.

The Gamecocks HC said, “I still think MiLaysia's a generational talent... I'm genuinely happy for her. She played 2 years for us, and we're always gonna be happy. We'll always consider her a Gamecock no matter what uniform she puts on."

Staley also stated, “She does things out there on the floor that I haven’t seen a whole lot of female basketball players do. I’m generally happy for her. Like, I’m super happy.”

The 55-year-old also noted that Fulwiley is beginning to show the kind of growth they had previously discussed.

“She’s actually doing some of the things that we talked about her doing. Just direct line drives and making plays. We all know she can play. We all know that she undoubtedly is a tremendous player.”

For context, MiLaysia Fulwiley spent her first two seasons with the Gamecocks under Staley before moving to the LSU Tigers in 2025. In her first season with LSU, the 5’10” guard is enjoying significant success, and hence, Staley has every reason to be happy with her performance.

But have you ever wondered what fuel helps Fulwiley put up such stellar performances? Apparently, it's her mindset.

MiLaysia Fulwiley Reveals the Mindset Behind Her Motivation

Even though MiLaysia Fulwiley didn’t get the result she hoped for, she still shared what drives her whenever she steps onto the court.

“I feel like I just want to win. I just got the mindset of going out there and helping my team win and just doing whatever I need to do,” she said, explaining that her focus is always on doing whatever helps her team succeed.

And in the recent matchup, she certainly tried to do just that. Still, the LSU Tigers women's basketball struggled with ball security, committing 14 turnovers during the game.

Their shooting from beyond the arc also went cold at just 33%, which made things even tougher. In the end, those struggles added up, and the loss marked LSU’s 19th straight defeat in the series against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Interestingly, the game took place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

So, when asked if being a South Carolina native gave her extra motivation in a game like this, MiLaysia Fulwiley said, “Of course. My family was here. They always give me extra motivation to play well. Just seeing them in the stands made me want to go harder.”

So, do you think MiLaysia Fulwiley can help the LSU Tigers women's basketball end their losing streak against the South Carolina Gamecocks?

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Souvik Roy