By ANDRE CHAMPAGNE, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
Continuity. What does it mean? It refers to an uninterrupted connection, succession or union. But it’s also rare in today’s landscape of collegiate athletics during the NIL era.
Even so, it’s something the 2026-27 LSU women’s basketball team is expected to have. With the transfer portal set to open on April 6, the Tigers are only expected to lose one player to the portal – freshman guard Divine Bourrage – in addition to the departures of seniors Flau’jae Johnson and Amiya Joyner.
So, what about everyone else? Head coach Kim Mulkey told WAFB-9 TV’s Jacques Doucet in a one-on-one interview this week that she expects the rest of the roster to return next season.
“Well, I’ve had my individual meetings,” Mulkey told Doucet. “They’re all coming back except for Divine.”
"I've had my individual meetings. They're all coming back except for Divine." @LSUwbkb @KimMulkey sat down for a 42-minute one-on-one interview recapping this past season and looking ahead to next year.
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) April 2, 2026
"I am blessed that all of those great players are coming back."
Complete… pic.twitter.com/Mk5qIqpMqM
If that holds, it would mark the most continuity Mulkey has had during her time at LSU. But why is that important? Couldn’t she simply rebuild through the portal each year? She could – but the best teams in college athletics typically feature veteran experience, supplemented by key transfer additions around a core of established players.
Take this year’s Final Four teams as a prime example: South Carolina, Texas, UConn and UCLA. What do they all have in common? Their rosters aren’t portal-heavy; instead, they rely on experienced cores supported by key additions. Players like Madina Okot, Gianna Kneepkens, Serah Williams, Ta’Niya Latson and Breya Cunningham all serve as important complementary pieces. They play essential roles in their teams’ success, but those teams are ultimately driven by continuity.
That’s why Mulkey believes returning eight of her 11 most-used players will be critical for the program’s future.
“You cannot understand the value of having all of them come back,” Mulkey told Doucet. “That’s how you build it. That’s how you get over that hump of Elite Eight. When you look at those who are coming back – freshman, freshman, sophomore, junior – and look how much they did this year. If they come back, they stay together, they play together. That’s how you build it. That’s the way it’s supposed to be done, so I am blessed that all of those great players are coming back.”
The Tigers will still need to add pieces through the transfer portal to complement their returners and fill roster gaps, especially in the post. Associate head coach Bob Starkey also told Doucet in a separate one-on-one interview this week that LSU is targeting two post players and an experienced guard to strengthen its depth.
“Well, certainly, we’d like to add another big,” Starkey told Doucet. “We lost Amiya. We’d like to add a big. Maybe two bigs. Wouldn’t be bad to pick up some depth at the point guard spot and if we are able to maintain everybody and keep everybody here, I think that’d be a heck of a team.”
. @LSUwbkb hopes to retain everyone they wish and will be looking to add a post player, maybe two and some depth at the point guard spot, says #LSU assistant Bob Starkey.
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) April 2, 2026
Watch complete one-hour conversation – https://t.co/AdN3ItdZDx pic.twitter.com/HtKJ7CJjEn
So, not only do the Tigers bring back valuable experience, but their level of continuity also allows Mulkey and her staff to be more selective in the portal – handpicking additions that best fit their needs.
EXPECTED RETURNERS (Minutes Per Game, Points Per Game, Rebounds Per Game, Assists Per Game)
Junior guard Mikaylah Williams: 28.5 mpg, 14.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.6 apg
Junior guard MiLaysia Fulwiley: 22.7 mpg, 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.5 apg
Sophomore guard Jada Richard: 26.2 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.3 apg
Sophomore forward Kate Koval: 16.6 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.4 apg
Freshman forward Grace Knox: 18.5 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 0.5 apg
Freshman forward ZaKiyah Johnson: 18.9 mpg, 9.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.0 apg
Freshman guard Bella Hines: 13.0 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.1 apg
Freshman Forward Meghan Yarnevich: 6.3 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.2 apg
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