Is LSU done in the women's college basketball transfer portal?

LSU assistant coach Gary Redus II joined an X Spaces late Sunday night hosted by GeauxTigerHoops to speak on the Tiger’s portal experience this offseason and if they want to add more before the 2024-25 season. 

Redus started by speaking to LSU’s desire to keep their portal movement under wraps until everything was finalized, which Tigers mostly adhered to. Word of Mississippi State transfer Mjracle Sheppard and Arizona’s Kailyn Gilbert got out. However, there was virtually no speculation of Miami transfer Shayeann Day-Wilson committing to the Tigers before the 5 p.m. announcement of all three newcomers. 

When asked if LSU was done looking in the transfer portal for new additions, Redus didn’t have a definitive answer. 

“We will see,” Redus said. “We aren’t going to reach for anybody in the portal. We’re still trying to monitor some things. I see y’all asking for it. I’ll put it to you like this – we can’t get anybody who doesn’t want to come here.” 

That’s not a no, but it’s also not a yes in terms of where the Tigers stand on adding new talent via the portal. Fans have been itching for a few players in particular to join LSU, but nothing has come of it yet. 

“Within the portal, it’s a couple names that I think everybody keeps saying,” Redus said. “I don’t know how much they want to be here. And if they don’t want to be here, then I don’t know. If there are a couple still out there that want to come here – but are they great fits? Will taking one of them stunt Aalyah Del Rosario’s growth?”

Last season, LSU added a loaded portal class and it didn’t necessarily work out as planned. 

This year, the Tigers still thrived in the portal with four new additions but had new knowledge to work with as far as the importance of chemistry. 

“One thing that we learned – and I think that everybody could kind of notice it – there’s no substitute for organic chemistry,” Redus said. “Going into the portal this year and even honestly going into recruiting the 24 class…we didn’t know who all was leaving.”

But LSU attempted to fill some holes left by Angel Reese (WNBA), Hailey van Lith (portal) and a few other young pieces who entered the transfer portal. It sounds like they could potentially be open to adding more, but mutual interest and best fit still stand as the most important factors.