Kim Mulkey’s LSU drops in AP Top 25 of 2024-25 season in Angel Reese’s absence
The LSU Tigers will likely suffer from Angel Reese going to the WNBA, per the latest update in AP's Top 25 women's college basketball poll. Kim Mulkey's side dropped to seventh place in the Top 25, as other programs made massive gains.
Reese played a key role in the Tigers' run to the Elite Eight last season. She started all games she appeared in and averaged 18.4 points, 13.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists. She was named the SEC Player of the Year and earned USBWA First-Team All-American honors before getting drafted by the Chicago Sky as the seventh overall pick in this year's WNBA draft.
Mulkey and her staff have tried to find able replacements for Reese in the offseason. They signed Arkansas forward Jersey Wolfenbarger, who made the 2022 SEC All-Freshman Team, from the transfer portal.
They also bolstered their backcourt depth by picking up Shayeann Day-Wilson, Kailyn Gilbert and Mjracle Shepperd from the portal and earned a commitment from four-star point guard prospect Jada Richard. When combined with returners Flau'jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams, LSU has a fairly strong roster to make a deep postseason run in the upcoming season.
However, its recruitment wasn't enough to convince AP, as it fell behind some of its competition ahead of the 2024-25 season.
LSU is seventh as Texas and Iowa State make massive gains
While the Tigers dropped a place, the Texas Longhorns jumped three places to fourth. Their strong signing class will be a key factor in their rise, as they signed three top 50 prospects in Justice Carlton, Jordan Lee and Bryanna Preston.
The Iowa State Cyclones were the biggest gainers in the latest update, jumping 17 places to eighth in the Top 25. The additions of MAC Freshman of the Year Sydney Harris and Beavers star Lily Hansford and a commitment from top-100 prospect Aili Hanke to the roster have significantly strengthened the Cyclones.
The South Carolina Gamecocks are tipped to go all the way, maintaining their place at the top of AP's Top 25. The signings of No. 2 overall prospect Joyce Edwards and No. 12 prospect Maddy McDaniel coupled with a strong core make Dawn Staley's side formidable, with Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies close behind in second place.