Tag: Mikaylah Williams

Former LSU basketball guard Janae Kent commits to SEC rival

LSU hasn’t seen the last of Janae Kent.

LSU hasn’t seen the last of former women’s basketball guard [autotag]Janae Kent[/autotag].

On Sunday, the rising sophomore announced that she will be transferring to SEC rival Texas A&M, meaning the Tigers will face her head-to-head next season.

A top-100 recruit coming out of high school in Oak Forest, Illinois, Kent appeared in 32 games this season as a true freshman, mostly in a rotational capacity.

Her one start came in place of an injured [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] in the SEC championship against South Carolina, in which she scored three points. She scored a season-high seven points in two games against Queens and Texas Southern.

Kent joins an Aggies team that is coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2021. As a No. 11 seed, Texas A&M lost its opening-round matchup against No. 6-seeded Nebraska.

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LSU women’s basketball hosted elite transfer portal guard last week

Kailyn Gilbert averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a sophomore at Arizona.

After the Tigers’ national title defense season ended in the Elite Eight, they’re likely to hit the transfer portal hard once again after losing starting point guard Hailey Van Lith, who committed to TCU.

The LSU women’s basketball team may have a replacement in mind for the backcourt. It hosted Arizona guard transfer [autotag]Kailyn Gilbert[/autotag] last weekend, and the Tigers could be trending for the premier scorer.

A sophomore from Tampa, Gilbert has appeared in 55 games in her two seasons in Tucson, making 19 starts. This past season, she averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She led the Wildcats in scoring, and that mark ranked seventh overall in the Pac-12.

LSU has a lot to replace following the departures of Angel Reese to the WNBA draft and Van Lith to the portal. But with a player like Gilbert added to a backcourt that already features [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], the Tigers could have a much more ferocious offensive attack next season.

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LSU’s Mikaylah Williams invited to USA Basketball 3×3 training camp

Mikaylah Williams has a chance to earn a spot on the Olympic team.

[autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag]’ international career with Team USA is set to continue this spring.

Williams was one of 17 players invited to take part in USA Basketball’s 3×3 in Springfield, Massachusetts, from April 17-20, where the team will evaluate players to ultimately help determine the team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The reigning SEC Freshman of the Year is no stranger to competing on the international stage. She’s a three-time (and reigning) 3×3 World Cup champion, and she was named USA Basketball Athlete of the Year in 2022 and 2023.

Williams has also competed internationally in 5×5, winning a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup.

Williams, one of the top recruits coming out of high school in the 2023 class, averaged 14.5 points while totaling 98 assists this season, both of which rank sixth all-time at LSU among true freshmen. She set a program record for true freshmen with 42 points scored against Kent State, and she scored 20+ points in seven games.

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Hailey Van Lith doesn’t declare for WNBA draft as deadline passes

Hailey Van Lith hasn’t made any public announcements as the draft deadline has now passed.

The deadline to declare for the WNBA draft came and went on Wednesday, and LSU’s [autotag]Hailey Van Lith[/autotag] is yet to announce her plans.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] declared and the assumption was Van Lith would too. Both were honored at LSU’s senior day last month, but official decisions were up in the air.

With Reese off to the WNBA, Van Lith’s next step is still unclear. It’s possible she silently declared, but if she didn’t, that could mean a return to LSU is in the fold.

Van Lith passing on the draft doesn’t guarantee a return to LSU. The senior guard could opt to hit the transfer portal again and explore her options elsewhere.

Van Lith’s numbers at LSU were below the standard she set at Louisville, but with Reese gone, Van Lith has the chance to take center stage on next year’s team.

Van Lith, along with [autotag]Flau’jae Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] could form one of the nation’s most dynamic backcourts.

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LSU women’s basketball survives against UCLA, advances to the Elite Eight

LSU is moving on to the Elite Eight for the 10th time in program history.

It was a battle for four quarters, but the LSU women’s basketball team survived in the Sweet 16 against No. 2-seeded UCLA, overcoming a deficit in the final frame to win 78-69.

The Tigers advanced to their 10th Elite Eight in program history and reached the quarterfinal round of the tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2007-08.

The first quarter was neck-and-neck, with both teams tied at 15 entering the second quarter. Eight of those 15 points for LSU were scored by [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag].

The Tigers controlled the second quarter, outscoring the Bruins 19-12 as they took a 34-27 lead over the higher-seeded team heading into the locker room.

UCLA flipped the script in the third quarter, however. It outscored the Tigers by seven and reclaimed the lead. LSU ultimately tied it at 48, but it was an entirely new ball game heading into the fourth quarter.

Both teams found themselves in foul trouble in a back-and-forth fourth quarter with [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag], [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] and [autotag]Aalyah Del Rosario[/autotag] all picking up four.

Though it played from behind for a lot of the final quarter, LSU took a lead in the final two minutes, and a clutch layup from Johnson put the Tigers up four. An offensive foul on the other end gave the Tigers the ball back up two possessions with 39 seconds to play.

LSU extended its lead to six, but Reese fouled out with 31 seconds to play. Still, the Tigers’ defense held up without her, and they made their free throws down the stretch to salt the game away.

Johnson was once again the offensive star, finishing with a game-high 24 points while also adding 12 rebounds. Reese also finished with a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds) despite fouling out, while Morrow (17 points) and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] (12) also scored in double figures.

Now, LSU will move on to face the winner of Iowa and Colorado in what will either be a rematch of last year’s national title or this year’s season opener. That game will be on Monday night.

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LSU women’s basketball survives against Rice in NCAA Tournament opener

The Tigers will move on to face Middle Tennessee in the second round.

It was much more anxiety-inducing than the 28.5-point spread would have indicated, but the LSU women’s basketball team survived and advanced as the No. 3 seed in its NCAA Tournament opener against Rice on Friday afternoon.

It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for coach Kim Mulkey’s team, which led just 30-27 at the half. LSU pulled away to an 11-point lead at the end of the third, though, and while the Owls made a couple of runs in the fourth, they couldn’t close the gap.

[autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] finished with a double-double with 10 points and 19 rebounds, while [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] (15 points), [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag] (14) and [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] (14) also scored in double figures.

After Louisville was upset by Middle Tennessee in its opener, the Tigers will now face the No. 11-seeded Blue Raiders in the second round on Sunday.

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LSU women’s basketball star freshman Mikaylah Williams lands Jordan NIL deal

Mikaylah Williams hasn’t built the same NIL profile as Angel Reese and Flau’Jae Johnson, but the SEC Freshman of the Year is well on her way.

As a true freshman, [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag] hasn’t quite built the NIL profile of her teammates [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Flau’Jae Johnson[/autotag]. But the LSU guard and SEC Freshman of the Year is well on her way.

Williams has now signed an NIL deal with Jordan Brand, becoming just the third amateur women’s basketball player to do so.

“Signing with Jordan Brand allows me to inspire young girls and contribute to the growth of women’s basketball,” Williams said in a statement, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

The No. 1 recruit in the nation in the 2023 class, Williams has been a major contributor for the Tigers this season, averaging 14.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. She also set a program scoring record with 42 points in a game against Kent State earlier this year.

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ESPN lists LSU’s Angel Reese, Aneesah Morrow among top players in women’s NCAA Tournament

The Tigers boast two of the biggest stars in the entire tournament.

LSU stars [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and [autotag]Aneesah Morrow[/autotag] have racked up quite a few accolades since the conclusion of the regular season.

Reese is the SEC Player of the Year, and both have been featured on All-SEC and All-American lists. So, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that the pair are among the best players in the entire 2024 NCAA women’s tournament.

ESPN recently put out its rankings of the 25 best players in the field, and both Reese and Morrow made the cut. Reese cracked the top 10, coming in at No. 10 after becoming the first SEC player in more than 30 years to lead the league in scoring and rebounding in back-to-back seasons.

Reese ranks second in Division I in rebounding, one of LSU’s biggest strengths and a key to the Tigers defending their national championship. They are third in D-I — and first among Power 5 teams — on the boards (46.5 RPG). Only five players have repeated as the Final Four Most Outstanding Player; the last to do so was UConn’s Breanna Stewart, who won the honor all four of her seasons (2013-2016). Reese could repeat this year, but LSU first must get through what looks like the toughest region just to advance to the Final Four.

Morrow comes in just a few spots later at No. 15.

Morrow didn’t get a chance to play in the NCAA tournament last season; her team then, DePaul, didn’t make the field. She transferred to LSU and has formed a powerful duo with Reese. Morrow is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, and leads in steals and blocked shots. She might be the X factor for LSU in this NCAA tournament because she’s so capable of huge performances.

[autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], the SEC Freshman of the Year, was also listed as an honorable mention for the Tigers.

Coach Kim Mulkey’s team is a No. 3 seed in the tournament and will begin its run on Friday afternoon against Rice at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

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LSU women’s basketball signee Jada Richard named Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year

Jada Richard succeeds LSU’s Mikaylah Williams, who won the award the last two seasons.

Coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] continues to acquire elite talent for the LSU women’s basketball team, and its top signee in the 2024 class has been named the Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year.

[autotag]Jada Richard[/autotag] received the honor after the Lafayette Christian Academy 5-foot-7 guard led the Knights to their fourth consecutive state title two weeks ago. As a senior this season, she averaged 26.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.7 steals.

Richard led the Knights to a 32-2 record and scored 18 points as they captured the state title. She was named the game’s MVP for the second time in her career, and she was the Class 4A Player of the Year this season.

Richard succeeds LSU guard [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], the two-time reigning Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year. Richard currently ranks 97th nationally in the ESPNW Top 100 recruiting rankings.

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Status of LSU’s Last-Tear Poa unclear heading into NCAA Tournament, per Kim Mulkey

Last-Tear Poa is making progress, but it’s not clear if she will play in the NCAA Tournament.

LSU’s SEC Tournament semifinal win over Ole Miss featured a scary moment.

Guard Last-Tear Poa hit her head on the court and was unable to leave on her own power. She was ultimately taken off the court in a stretcher and to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with a concussion.

Poa was in attendance at LSU’s Selection Sunday watch party at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Sunday night, but at her Monday press conference, coach [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag] was noncommittal regarding Poa’s status for the NCAA Tournament.

“Well, you saw her out there [at the watch party] tonight. She’s better every day,” Mulkey said, per On3. “I think she told me she got on the treadmill, maybe, today. Gonna try to do some individual workouts, so that’s a great sign.

“Her parents are still here. They will leave (Monday) night. This week we had three days off and been practicing since Thursday. Had today off, and then we will get in the film room tomorrow and go to work.”

Poa has been a key rotational player coming off the bench for the Tigers this year, appearing in 32 games with 10 starts. She made the start in the Ole Miss game for an injured [autotag]Mikaylah Williams[/autotag], and on the year, she’s averaging five points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds.

LSU hosts Rice in its NCAA Tournament opener on Friday at 3 p.m. CT.

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