LSU women's basketball: Five questions before the new season | LSU

The revamped LSU women's basketball team takes the court for the first time Thursday at 7 p.m., the scheduled start time for its exhibition game against Xavier of New Orleans at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

During the offseason, LSU lost Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith and two freshmen it had signed for its 2023 recruiting class. But it brought back Aneesah Morrow, Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, three players who will make up what some consider the most talented trio in the country.

But talent can only take a team so far. LSU had plenty of them last year and their season ended just short of the Final Four. What will it take this year for the No. 7 Tigers to return to the NCAA Tournament's biggest stage?

Use these five questions as a guide before the 2024-25 season officially begins.

1. Who plays point guard?

Van Lith transferred to TCU and left a void at point guard at LSU. Will returning veteran Last-Tear Poa take on this role? Or will coach Kim Mulkey hand the reins to a transfer?

Shayeann Day-Wilson, a senior from Miami, has started more than twice as many games as the rest of the ball-handlers on the roster combined, but she has no experience running Mulkey's system. At the Southeastern Conference media day on Oct. 16, Mulkey said she expected to “just be a point guard” this season.

“I think once she understands everything that's required of her as a point guard,” Mulkey said, “she'll shine.” She can shoot the 3-ball. She’s lightning fast.”

LSU also has Arizona transfer Kailyn Gilbert, a raw player who can create her own shot, and Mississippi State transfer Mjracle Sheppard, a tall, long sophomore who can defend the point of attack.

And don't forget Jada Richard, a freshman from Lafayette Christian who impressed Mulkey in preseason practice.

They are all fighting for a starting role alongside the four main returnees: Johnson, Williams, Morrow and Sa'Myah Smith.

2. How well will LSU recover?

Over the last two seasons, Reese grabbed 34% of LSU's offensive rebounds, 27% of LSU's defensive rebounds and 30% of LSU's total rebounds. The 996 boards she collected were the second most in the country during that span.

How will the Tigers replace that production?

They are fortunate to still have Morrow, one of the best rebounders in the country. The senior is on pace to finish her career with the third-most rebounds in NCAA history.

But Morrow can't carry the rebounding load alone. Replacing the work Reese did on the glass will require a collaborative effort led by Smith, sophomore Aalyah Del Rosario and Arkansas transfer Wolfenbarger.

3. Will LSU play with speed again?

Mulkey, Morrow and Johnson certainly seem to think so.

According to data from Her Hoop Stats, LSU played at one of the ten fastest speeds in the country last season. Since 2009, no Mulkey-coached team has had more possession per 40 minutes than the Tigers did last year.

The foundation of this transition-based offense has returned. Morrow, Johnson and Williams are all fast, athletic and versatile – three traits that allow each of them to excel in fast-paced attack opportunities.

“We’re going to move the ball forward,” Mulkey said. “Nobody wants to watch you run the ball across the floor.”

4. Bench Contributors

Pencil will fill the backup roles for Poa and Del Rosario, the 6-foot-3 center who has now fully recovered from offseason ankle surgery. That leaves just one or two more players getting minutes, as Mulkey likes to tighten up her rotation once SEC play begins.

Wolfenbarger can bring size and versatility to the frontcourt. Gilbert can provide half-court scoring. Sheppard can defend opposing point guards and wings. Richard may be able to create space straight away, but will Mulkey be confident in her defensive abilities at this early stage in her career?

LSU will have about two months to figure everything out before the schedule becomes more rigorous.

5. How tough is LSU's schedule?

The SEC portion of the schedule is more difficult than last season, but the non-conference portion is not.

Seven teams ranked in the preseason AP poll are on the Tigers' schedule. Of those seven, only one – No. 9 NC State – is on the non-conference list. LSU plays Washington (November 25) and Stanford (December 5), but neither team was selected to finish among the top five teams in its conference.

Washington missed the NCAA Tournament last season and Stanford is rebuilding. During the offseason, the Cardinal lost its two best players and its longtime coach, Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer.