What would MiLaysia Fulwiley look like in Geno Auriemma's UConn? Breaking down potential fit with Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong
South Carolina guard MiLaysia Fulwiley has entered the transfer portal after helping the Gamecocks win the 2024 national championship and finish second to UConn this season.
The 5-foot-10 guard played in all 77 games for Dawn Staley, coming off the bench in all but three of them. She averaged 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 18.7 minutes per game.
One team looking for a point guard next season is UConn after its veteran playmakers Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen graduated and were picked in the WNBA draft.
Although the Huskies signed five-star point guard Kelis Fisher from the Class of 2025, UConn coach Geno Auriemma can still boost his backcourt via the transfer portal, and Fulwiley could be a prime target.
How does MiLaysia Fulwiley fit in at UConn?
Fulwiley's slashing can set up UConn's shooters like Azzi Fudd
MiLaysia Fulwiley is a great penetrator who can trigger opposing defenses to close in on her. When this happens, Fulwiley can pass it to an open shooter who is ready to pull the trigger from the perimeter.
Fulwiley has averaged 2.1 assists per game in 77 games for a South Carolina team that had Te-Hina Paopao as its top perimeter shooter, tallying 1.5 3-point makes per game last season. Tessa Johnson is the next best shooter for the Gamecocks, making 1.2 triples per outing.
UConn has players who are deadly from outside the perimeter. One player who could benefit is the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player, Azzi Fudd, who scored 24 points in the final against South Carolina and 19 against UCLA in the Final Four.
Fudd has thrived on being set up by a playmaker and that was the dynamic when Paige Bueckers was on the team. The 5-foot-11 guard has been the recipient of those emergency passes, and she knocks them down most of the time.
This season, Fudd averaged 2.3 made 3-pointers per game and had a 43.6% accuracy from the 3-point line.
Fulwiley's court vision gives Sarah Strong easy baskets from the paint
Another player who can be effective with a playmaker like Fulwiley is Sarah Strong. The daughter of Allison Feaster has proven her billing as the top freshman for the Class of 2024, tallying 16.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, 2.3 spg and 1.7 bpg.
Strong can shoot from inside and outside and would likely become the recipient of Fulwiley's passes on the post. The 6-foot-2 power forward can also shoot the 3-pointer, as she makes 1.5 triples each game and shoots a respectable 38.8% from deep.
The freshman of the year awardee can also return the favor to Fulwiley, as she was a good passer. Her assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.6 to 1.6 proves this point, as this is unheard of when it comes to power forwards like her.
MiLaysia Fulwiley's championship experience is an advantage
Losing Paige Bueckers and Kaitlyn Chen has left a void in the point guard position, which Fulwiley could fill. Freshman Kelis Fisher could take time to settle, and having an experienced playmaker like MiLaysia Fulwiley would benefit the Huskies.
Fulwiley has two seasons of championship experience with South Carolina, which she can use to UConn's advantage. But just like other greats, she needs some guidance from the best coach to have ever set foot in women's college basketball, in Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma has molded young players like Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and Paige Bueckers to become superstars and legends in the sport. If Fulwiley chooses to commit to UConn, she would be trained to become a more efficient playmaker and an effective decision-maker, which most college basketball experts expect her to become.