Kim Mulkey’s team will look different this year both visibly and schematically.
With Angel Reese taking her career to the WNBA and Hailey Van Lith leaving for TCU, Mulkey and her staff resorted to the transfer portal. Along with the four transfers they added, they also kept the top class of 2024 in-state recruit home.
On Sept. 23, Tiger fans got to see these new additions for the first time at the team’s first open practice.
But here’s what the newcomers have done in their careers thus far, which got them to LSU.
Kailyn Gilbert
Kailyn Gilbert is a transfer from the University of Arizona who adds some more valuable experience to the guard position.
In her freshman season in 2022-23, she started all 32 games for the Wildcats, averaging 4.9 points per game.
In her sophomore season, she took it to the next level, averaging 15.1 points per game along with 5.3 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game. She also shot 41.9% from the field and 40% from three.
But where Gilbert is most effective is forcing turnovers. Last season, she finished with 22 turnovers and totaled 53 steals in two seasons.
Shayeann Day-Wilson
Shayeann Day-Wilson also adds valuable experience to the guard position, averaging 27.2 minutes of play over three seasons. She played two seasons at Duke before transferring to Miami.
Day-Wilson made a smooth transition to the collegiate level, averaging 12.7 points per game along with three rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game in her freshman season.
Last season at Miami, she scored 11.9 points per game along with 2.7 points per game and 3.5 assists per game.
Not only does she add depth to the guard position, she also adds depth to the point-guard role. Day-Wilson and Last-Tear Poa, rotating at the point, can give LSU different looks in its offense.
Mjracle Sheppard
Mjracle Sheppard also made a nice transition to the college level for her freshman season at Mississippi State.
While she wasn’t a primary scoring threat, she was a significant factor on the defensive side of the ball.
And LSU is well aware of that.
Against the Tigers last season where the Bulldogs came away with an upset 77-73 win, Sheppard totaled six steals. That performance marked her fourth game of the season with over five steals.
In her freshman season, she averaged five points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game and 1.4 steals per game.
Jersey Wolfenbarger
Jersey Wolfenbarger adds versatility to LSU’s lineup. Standing at 6-foot-5, she can provide both a presence in the paint and a threat on the perimeter.
Wolfenbarger was named to SEC’s All-Freshman team after finishing with 7.6 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 1.1 assists per game.
For her sophomore season, she implemented more of her game in the front court, finishing third on Arkansas in blocks. She averaged 1.3 blocks per game along with seven points per game and 2.3 rebounds per game for her sophomore season.
When it comes to potential, Wolfenbarger has lots of it. She is a former McDonald’s All-American and was Arkansas’ High School Gatorade Player of the Year in both 2020 and 2021.
Mulkey recruited Wolfenbarger during her coaching tenure at Baylor, so she should know how to implement her properly both offensively and defensively.
Jada Richard
LSU added one true freshman to the team for this coming season, and it didn’t have to look far to do so.
Jada Richard led Lafayette Christian Academy to four state championships and received MVP honors in three of the titles. She was Louisiana’s 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year and scored 2,886 points throughout her high school career.
Richard is a true point guard and will also add depth to the position along with Day-Wilson. She’s a do-it-all offensive player, as she scores just as effectively as she facilitates the offense.
Richard has a good chance to make an impact as a true freshman, and she can gain valuable experience for this season going forward.
