Where LSU women's basketball roster stands as transfer portal opens up

The 2023-24 women's college basketball season came to a close Sunday afternoon with South Carolina and Dawn Staley taking down Caitlin Clark and Iowa for the NCAA championship that featured a record-breaking television viewing audience.

Less than a week before, LSU women's basketball, who were the reigning national champions, saw its season come to an abrupt end in the Elite 8 when it fell to Iowa in Albany, New York.

There's been some seismic movement for Kim Mulkey and the Tigers since the end of the season. Star forward Angel Reese declared for the 2024 WNBA Draft, which is Monday, April 15. Senior guard Hailey Van Lith will use her final year of eligibility but has decided to do so elsewhere as she's entered the transfer portal.

Backup freshman point guard Angelica Velez entered the portal Monday.

There's been some intake for LSU as well. Before the season came to a close, Mulkey and her staff picked up a commitment from the portal in Arkansas junior transfer combo player Jersey Wolfenbarger.

As the current transfer portal rolls on, the Tigers will be in the market for a handful of players and will be open to adding at any position.

Let's breakdown where LSU's 2024-25 roster currently stands.

With Angel Reese gone, Aneesah Morrow, Sa'Myah Smith to lead way for LSU women's basketball in the post

The post doesn't have as many questions going to next season as it did heading into this past season.

While there's still some overall inexperience, Aneesah Morrow will be the spearhead for LSU's forwards. Morrow had a stellar first season in Baton Rouge, recorded 18 double-doubles and was a Second Team All-SEC performer, averaging more than 16 points and 10 rebounds per game.

The return of Sa'Myah Smith from a knee injury she suffered early this last season will be paramount as she was having a great start to her sophomore campaign and will help bring size. Rising sophomore Aalyah Del Rosario has a year in Mulkey's system and looked more comfortable as her freshman year progressed. Much more will be expected from Del Rosario in 2024-25.

Amani Bartlett is expected back as well.

Last-Tear Poa primed to captain thin point guard position for Kim Mulkey

There's no question that LSU's staff will aim to bring in multiple guards as the team is currently at its thinnest at point guard with Van Lith and Velez out. But Last-Tear Poa is a great starting point for the Tigers in 2024-25.

Poa is the ideal point guard for Mulkey, her game being a prototypical facilitator. She had 109 assists this past season, nine less than Van Lith while playing more than 300 less minutes. Poa averaged 4.9 points per game.

LSU is strongest at off-ball guard position thanks to stars Flau'jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams

Getting Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams back is massive for LSU. Johnson arguably was LSU's most consistent player during its run in the NCAA Tournament this year, putting up 20.5 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two assists per game.

HAILEY VAN LITH LSU women's basketball's Hailey Van Lith enters transfer portal

ANGEL REESE LSU women's basketball star Angel Reese declares for the 2024 WNBA Draft

Williams, like Johnson, has been a day-one starter for the Tigers, and captured SEC Freshman of the Year honors, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Expectation is that Johnson will be a leader of LSU going forward but the amount of experience Williams picked up in her freshman season, the coaching staff will ask more of the Bossier City native next season.

LSU also welcomes back Janae Kent and Izzy Besselman. Kent showed some brief flashes last season and with a year in the system, could have an opportunity for more playing time as a sophomore.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Where LSU women's basketball stands as transfer portal opens up