Kim Mulkey lands huge recruitment victory just hours after emotional LSU departure
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey was left "heartbroken" after the school dismissed Scott Woodward as athletic director, but the Tigers have added a star prospect in the class of 2026
LSU head coach Kim Mulkey landed star prospect Lola Lampley just hours after the school moved on from athletic director Scott Woodward.
Changes are afoot at LSU. After the Tigers decided to move on from Brian Kelly as the head coach of its football team, the school also moved on from longtime athletic director Woodward, the man who hired LSU women's basketball coach Mulkey back in 2021.
Mulkey found out the news midway through LSU's 121-41 exhibition game against Langston on Thursday night. She skipped her postgame press conference as a result, as the 63-year-old was deeply affected by the decision.
However, some good news arrived in the form of a new recruit. On Friday, Lampley — the No. 29 recruit in the SC Next 100 Class of 2026 — has committed to LSU.
Lampley is the first 2026 commit for Mulkey’s Tigers, who also enjoyed the top-ranked recruiting class in 2025. The 18-year-old chose LSU over offers from Mississippi State - where her sister Jaylah is a freshman - as well as Ole Miss and South Carolina, among others.
Standing 6-2, Lampley is currently a senior at Lawrence Central High School in Indiana. She has already enjoyed plenty of experiences in her young career, starring for USA Basketball, where she won gold medals at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup and 2023 FIBA Americas U16 Championship. She has also competed on the Nike EYBL circuit.
Lampley is an elite perimeter defender, utilising her length, anticipation, and versatility to dominate. Her ability to adapt undoubtedly fits the mold of recent LSU wings who have played under Mulkey in her physical defensive system.
Follow us on X for the best and latest in sports news
The addition of Lampley is a huge boost for LSU and the 2026 class, and the news may have raised Mulkey’s spirits. Following the news of Woodward’s dismissal, LSU assistant coach Bob Starkey revealed that Mulkey was “heartbroken,” which was why she skipped the press conference.
“In 40 years of collegiate coaching, I’ve worked for two phenomenal athletic directors," Starkey added. "One was Skip Bertman. The other one was Scott Woodward.”
Woodward had served as the school's Athletic Director since 2019. He not only hired Mulkey but also awarded her a 10-year extension worth $32 million after she led the school to a 2023 national championship.
“Our University will always hold a special place in my heart and I will never be too far from LSU,” Woodward said in a statement on Thursday. “Others can recap or opine on my tenure and on my decisions over the last six years as Director of Athletics, but I will not. I will focus on the absolute joy that LSU Athletics brings to our state's residents and to the Baton Rouge community.”
Mulkey and her Tigers open the season ranked fifth in the AP rankings. LSU faces Houston Christian in their first game on Tuesday, Nov. 4.