LSU women's basketball built a reputation as a fast-paced team that relies on quick play from its perimeter players. Head coach Kim Mulkey brought back two of her top three scorers from last year, both of whom are slated to start and continue the high-octane style.
Flau'jae Johnson heading to the WNBA leaves a spot vacant that was held for four seasons. The Tigers also said goodbye to Jada Richard and Bella Hines after both entered the transfer portal in the spring. Mulkey dipped into the portal to make her team quicker and more experienced.
One of those experienced new players is Jada Williams, an Iowa State transfer who will occupy the starting point guard spot. But she needs reliable counterparts on the wings who can drive the paint and shoot
from distance.
LSU has a balance of returners and newcomers to fill its two and three spots. Mulkey played small ball and threw four guards on the floor at times over her tenure in Baton Rouge, so expect her to go deep into her bench at the guard position.
Here are the guards who will play for LSU during the 2026-27 season.
Starters: Mikaylah Williams, MiLaysia Fulwiley
Fulwiley's 14.6 points per game led LSU last season, while Williams' 14.2 points per game tied Flau'jae Johnson for second. The pair is dynamic in transition and can hurt opposing defenses at all levels. They will occupy the two and three starting spots this season.
Williams enters her fourth year starting under Mulkey. She's an adept ball handler with a quick release from beyond the arc and in the midrange. At 6 feet tall, she can play physically on the inside and finish strong at the cup. Williams will be looked to when LSU needs big plays throughout the course of the season.
At last, after building a reputation as a spark plug off the bench, Fulwiley will claim a consistent starting spot. She answered Mulkey's challenge to improve as a defender and ball handler when running the half-court offense without losing her playmaking abilities on the fast break.
First in: Laila Reynolds, Lola Lampley
The pair of newcomers will be the first substitutes for the Tigers among perimeter players. Both played exceptionally well in the two exhibition games and stand as Mulkey's best options to rotate in at all three guard spots.
Reynolds averaged 9.8 points on 42% shooting and totaled 180 assists through three seasons at Florida, where she was a three-year starter. She knows how to compete in the SEC and brings a level of experience that LSU will need to make a run.
Lampley comes to LSU as its lone 2026 high school signee. The 6-foot-2 guard brings international experience with Team USA and unique length to the backcourt but showed her youth through the two exhibition games. Making the most of her minutes in nonconference play will determine how much Mulkey trusts her to perform against SEC talent.
Wild card: ZaKiyah Johnson
Mulkey used Johnson at all levels during her freshman season. Though she's rostered as a guard, Johnson got more minutes at the four and made 23 starts last year. LSU dealt with injuries in the frontcourt throughout the preseason, so Johnson joined Grace Knox in the starting lineup for both exhibition games.
The health of LSU's frontcourt will determine what role Johnson plays this season. Her best chance to start comes at forward, but with the way Mulkey shuffles her rotation, Johnson may get extended time on the perimeter. She averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds last year and made the SEC All-Freshman Team.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU women’s basketball guard preview: Williams, Fulwiley lead backcourt
