LSU is now quickly retooling its women’s basketball roster in the transfer portal with its second proven Power-Four standout in as many days after a week that had been more exits that additions.
Former Iowa State guard Jada Williams, an All-Big 12 First-Team performer this season, announced her commitment Sunday evening to the Lady Tigers.
The 5-foot-8 rising senior, who spent two seasons at Arizona before joining the Lady Cyclones last year, marks the second major development for the program this weekend just more than 24 hours after signing former Florida guard Laila Reynolds.
Williams played all 32 games this season and averaged 15.3 points, 7.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds per contest, ranking among the nation’s leaders in total assists, assists per game and assist-to-turnover ratio.
Her 246 assists were the second-most in a season in Iowa State history and she boasted eight double-doubles this season with the ability to take over games in a range of ways, including a 44-point night against Cincinnati, 16-point and career-high 14-assist showing at Houston and 15-point and 10-rebound effort against Marquette among three of her biggest performances.
Williams becomes the fourth 2023 McDonald’s All-American poised to be a part of LSU’s 2026-27 roster along with Reynolds and returning stars Mikaylah Williams (Parkway) and MiLaysia Fulwiley.
The first few days of the transfer window had largely marked news of players leaving Baton Rouge as four guards — including starting point guard Jada Richard (Lafayette Christian), senior Kailyn Gilbert and freshmen Bella Hines and Divine Bourrage — reportedly entered the portal.
But coach Kim Mulkey and company have now quickly started to fill in the gaps for a roster returning the bulk of its rotation from a Sweet 16 run that came a heartbreaking Duke buzzer-beater short of the Elite Eight.