LSU Women's Basketball Season Preview

Erik Trosclair • November 4, 2024

Let's get into it!

The LSU Women's Basketball season tips off Monday, November 4th, 2024, against Eastern Kentucky.


The Tigers have been chosen to finish 3rd in the SEC, and they are currently #7 in the top 25. The team has 6 preseason top 25 opponents on the schedule.


Head Coach Kim Mulkey is back for her 4th season at LSU. She has led the Tigers to no less than 26 overall wins and at least 13 SEC wins in each of her 1st 3 seasons. She has led the Tigers to a national championship as well.


LSU is returning 8 players this season.


Amani Barlett - Barlett will provide quality depth for the Tigers.

Flau'jae Johnson - Johnson was selected to the preseason 1st team All-SEC team. The star will look to continue to build off of her impressive career.

Sa'myah Smith - Smith is coming off of a torn ACL. The former SEC All-Freshman team selection will fit right into the rotation for the Tigers.

Last-Tear Poa - Poa has provided quality minutes for the Tigers throughout her career. She will do the same in her senior season.

Izzy Besselman - Besselman will provide quality depth for the Tigers.

Mikaylah Williams - Williams will look to build off of her impressive freshman season. She will likely start for this team.

Aneesah Morrow - Morrow was selected to the preseason 1st team All-SEC team, and she was named the preseason SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She will be a leader on this team.


The Tigers have 4 transfer additions.


Mjracle Sheppard - The Mississippi State transfer will battle for playing time. She is a bit dinged up right now.

Jersey Wolfenbarger - The 6'5'', Arkansas transfer, will provide solid minutes for the Tigers. She was an All-Freshman SEC selection.

Kailyn Gilbert - Gilbert, an Arizona transfer, should provide minutes for the Tigers at the guard position. She started 19 games for Arizona last season.

Shayeann Day-Wilson - Day-Wilson was the 2022 ACC Freshman of the Year while at Duke. She started 25 games for Miami last season.


LSU has 1 incoming freshman.


Jada Richard - The 4 star top 100 prospect, was named 2024 Gatorade Louisiana Player of the Year. Also, Richard was named Miss Basketball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. She was her school's valedictorian with a 4.08 GPA.


Coach Mulkey and the Tigers will look to make another deep run this season.


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Three football players in helmets on a field, one in red jersey gesturing toward another.

🌊Class of 2026 Player Spotlight🌊: Trace Johnson

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB 
Trace Johnson 
Trace Johnson is a pro-style pocket passer quarterback from the Class of 2026. Standing at 6-1 and weighing 190 pounds, he possesses a solid build for the position with room to add more mass at the college level. 
Originally from Gainesville, Florida, Johnson played his sophomore and junior seasons at Buchholz High School before transferring to Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, ahead of his senior year in 2025. 
The move allowed him to compete in one of California’s top high school programs, where he helped lead the team to an Open Division State Championship. Johnson comes from strong football lineage as the son of Doug Johnson, a former University of Florida quarterback (1996-1999) who went on to a seven-year NFL career with teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, amassing over 2,600 passing yards professionally. 
In addition to football, Johnson is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in baseball, showcasing his overall athleticism. Johnson committed to Tulane University on June 20, 2025, following an official visit, and signed his National Letter of Intent on December 3, 2025. He enrolled early at Tulane on January 12, 2026, positioning him to compete for playing time as a true freshman. 
Prior to his commitment, he held offers from programs including West Virginia, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, and Virginia, among others. 
Scouting Report: 
Arm Talent and Velocity: Johnson boasts a “cannon for an arm,” enabling him to make tight-window throws and deliver deep balls with precision and ease. His ability to thread the needle in coverage stands out as a pro-level trait. 
Touch and Deep Ball Accuracy: Exhibits excellent touch on longer throws, allowing receivers to track and adjust effectively. He gets the ball out on time, minimizing sacks and maximizing yards after catch. 
Progression Reading and Decision-Making: Patiently works through his reads without delaying his release, showing maturity beyond his years. His decision-making improved markedly over time, with interceptions dropping from 13 in 2023 to 5 in 2025. 
Clutch Performance and Improvement: Thrives in big games and playoffs, elevating his play when it matters most. He consistently got better as seasons progressed, adapting to new systems post-transfer. 
Poise and Leadership: Maintains composure under pressure, drawing from his pedigree to lead teams to championships and deep playoff runs. His work ethic and football IQ make him a natural field general. #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
Football player in red uniform running with the ball on a field during a game

🌊Transfer Portal Spotlight🌊: Zeon Chriss

By Patrick Harkness • July 11, 2026
QB Zeon Chriss- Houston 
Hall has explicitly said the offense will be “built around our quarterback” with tempo, a passing attack, pro-style elements (including heavy tight end usage), and more speed than recent Tulane teams. Crucially, he wants “at least one quarterback who can move around a little bit, a dual-threat guy.”  
Hall has called Chriss “an extreme dual-threat guy with a strong arm” and loves the contrast with the other main contender Semonza/Bruno/Johnson. He specifically praised Chriss’s explosiveness from his UL days: “When he was at Louisiana several years ago, I was in that league and he was just dynamic… Just dominated that league with his legs and was probably the scariest player in that league.” 
Chriss’s career stats: 2,263 passing yards (64% completion, 17 TDs) plus nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs across 13 starts. His mobility adds a true QB-run threat that aligns with Hall’s run-first success model (which he helped install as Tulane’s former OC under Willie Fritz). #RollWave Make sure to follow Patrick Harkness on X
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