The LSU Tigers' 2023-24 season came to an end Monday night in Albany, a 94-87 loss to a red-hot Caitlin Clark and Iowa in the Elite 8.Kim Mulkey's Tigers could not win the rematch ofthe 2023 National Championship Game, but this group's legacy, especially that of Angel Reese's, is cemented.
Reese's future in Baton Rouge is the top question mark when looking ahead to next season. She has a year of eligibility if she wants it but could be a first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft.
Let's take a look at our Stay, Go, Hello projections for Mulkey's next iteration of LSU women's basketball. The Tigers are already making moves in the transfer portal and of course have a great recruiting class coming in.
STAY OR GO?
Whether stars Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith returnto LSU for their fifth and final season of eligibility is the major question. So far, both of them have been tight-lipped about their future plans. Tigers faithful should be prepared for them to leave and overjoyed if they decide to stay. Losing them both would subtract over 31 points a game from a roster that averages 86.7 points.
Depending on which league source you ask, Reese could go anywhere from the middle of the first round to the middle of the second. Her ability and willingness to rebound the basketball is a skill that translates to the next level. That said, Reese's inability to shoot the 3-pointer will limit her draft stock in this modern era of posts who are able to stretch the floor. She's shooting just 11% from beyond the arc this season.
Van Lith's stock is a little tougher to gauge accurately. Her range is anywhere from the end of the second round to potentially being an undrafted free agent. There's no questioning her competitive nature, but moving to LSU has brought to light her struggles as a true point guard. Van Lith is hovering just below a 1.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio. WNBA scouts would love to see this be a 2:1 ratio at worst. For all of the noise surrounding Van Lith's production, she's still averaging 11.7 points and 3.7 assists on a team playing in the Elite8 (stats before the Elite 8).
MAJOR MINUTES RETURNERS
Three of this year's current starting five will be back. Aneesah Morrow has been playing at an All-American level yet again this season. Flau'jae Johnson took a major step up during her sophom*ore season, giving the impression that a breakout season is on the horizon. Mikaylah Williams has been one of the best freshman producers on a top-25 roster in the country. And if freshman Aalyah Del Rosario can improve even the slightest, then she'd be one of the best true interior threats in the country. Also, Last-Tear Poa's minutes at the guard spot have been invaluable.
THE BENCH MOB
LSU has several potential contributors for next season currently learning their roles from the bench. One of those budding stars is Sa'Myah Smith. Smith played a major role in last year's National Championship run and should be back from an ACLinjury shesuffered earlier this season. Also, two freshman — Angelica Velez and Janae Kent— were consensus top-100 prospects when they arrived in Baton Rouge. They, be fighting for more minutes during the offseason. In this Transfer Portal-era, it is very fair to assume that one (if not both) of these young prospects might look for greener pastures. But if they stay, then that some depth that should help keep Mulkey's crew amongst the nation's elite.
TRANSFER PORTAL ADDITIONS
Kim Mulkey's staff, which is spearheaded by Gary Redus II, made major waves in the 2023 Transfer Portal by landing both Morrow and Van Lith. There's no guarantee that there will be two players of that caliber awaiting the Tigers this go around, but fans can be certain that the staff is working overtime to improve LSU's chances.
Depending on Reese and Van Lith's decisions, there could be as many as five available roster slots to fill. Former Arkansas wing Jersey Wolfenbarger committed after visiting over the weekend.Both Ruby Whitehorn — a Clemson transfer with two seasons remaining— and DeeDee Hagemann, a Michigan State transfer with one season remaining, are firmly in-play for the Tigers, as well. LandingWhitehorn and Hagemannwould go a long way in offsetting the potential loss of Reese and Van Lith. Hagemann and Whitehorn each averaged 12.3 points per game in 2023-24for their respective programs.
The Tigers have also been linked to Arkansas transfer Taliah Scott. But even though it's not out of the question, it's unlikely that she'll choose to come to LSU. The same goes for Arizona transfer Kailyn Gilbert.
Expectthe Tigers to sort through the second wave of transfers who have started to hit the Portal. Even the third wave of transferswho will hit the portalafter the Final Four isover is a potential gold mine for LSU. Keep in mind that both Morrow and Van Lith took late-Springvisitsin 2023.
THE FUTURE
LSU just hosted top-50 Class of 2025 prospect Bella Hines on an official visit over the weekend. Hines could very well make an announcement on her college plans at any moment, though nothing is imminent. The Tigers are also tracking the biggest recruit in the junior class Aaliyah Chavez of Lubbock, Texas. Chavez and Hines will share a backcourt this club season for Cy-Fair Elite. Outside of these two prospects, LSU has been hyper focused on landing the players who can make immediate impacts. They've sent out offers out to some of the best players in the country, including Jasmine Davidson, Zakiyah Johnson and others.
