The LSU women's basketball program has seen significant roster turnover following the 2025-26 season, with five Tigers entering the transfer portal. For a team that had largely avoided major departures under head coach Kim Mulkey, this spring window felt different—and it reshaped the roster in unexpected ways.

Coach Mulkey had publicly anticipated losing just one player, but the final tally was four key contributors, including the team's starting point guard. The backcourt battle between Jada Richard and MiLaysia Fulwiley had been a storyline all season, with Richard ultimately winning the starting role in her second year in Baton Rouge. The pair shared responsibilities, though Fulwiley handled more of the scoring load.

LSU had signed the nation's top 2026 high school class, bringing in four talented freshmen. Half of that group has now moved on to other schools. The good news for Tigers fans: Grace Knox and ZaKiyah Johnson, both of whom earned starts throughout the season, remain in Baton Rouge and provide a strong foundation for the future.

Here's a breakdown of every LSU women's basketball player who entered the transfer portal after the 2025-26 season:

Jada Richard – Perhaps the biggest surprise, Richard entered the portal after serving as the team's starting point guard all season. The coaching staff had praised her offseason work and the major leap she made between her first and second years. Now a rising junior, Richard appears to be seeking a larger scoring role. She stayed within the SEC, transferring to Ole Miss. The Louisiana native averaged 9.5 points per game and dished out 117 assists, scoring 10 or more points in six of her last eight games and 10 of LSU's conference matchups. She hit a career-high 21 points in a win at Oklahoma.

Aaliyah Hines – Hines earned more playing time during the latter part of SEC play, providing a spark off the bench on both ends of the floor. In a regular-season matchup against South Carolina, she shut down sharpshooter Tessa Johnson, who had scored 14 points in the first half. The guard could have competed for a starting role in Baton Rouge, but chose to explore other opportunities.

The transfer portal is never easy for a championship-caliber program, but LSU's recruiting prowess and the retention of key players like Knox and Johnson give the Tigers a solid foundation to reload for next season.