WBB Recruiting: Kim Mulkey, LSU, push for top 2026 targets

With the summer months coming to an end and August around the corner, Kim Mulkey and LSU’s staff are putting the finishing touches on their evaluations, and further making inroads with the promising 2026 class. Mulkey has been more active the past couple of months, helping the Tigers make progress with several top targets. Now.

Here’s a rundown of who the Tigers are watching and intel on the top targets for 2026.

Final weekend on the AAU scene

Kim Mulkey made her appearance on the AAU circuit last weekend, going to all three major venues and seeing the competition alongside assistant coach Gary Redus. Assistant coaches Daphne Mitchell and Kaylin Rice were also on the move last weekend. This group is once again going to cover the entire country in what is the final weekend for AAU this summer among the major circuits. Here’s the schedule and who they’re going to see.

*** Adidas in Charlotte

• Oliviyah Edwards (No. 5 2026)
• Kaleena Smith (No. 1 2027)
• Eve Long (No. 7 2027)

*** Under Armour in Pennsylvania

• Jacy Abii (No. 12 2026)
• Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka (No. 2 2027)
• Haylen Ayers (No. 3 2027)
• Caroline Bradley (No. 5 2027)
• Ella Peper (2028)

*** Nike in Chicago

• Autumn Fleary (No. 15 2026)
• Olivia Vukosa (No. 4 2026)
• Trinity Jones (No. 23 2026)
• Lola Lampley (No. 18 2026)
• Jemini Mitchell (No. 13 2027)

LSU’s 2026 class updates

*** Starting with Autumn Fleary, because she’s been the one we’ve been watching the past two months. Her timeline kept moving back, even though she’s completed all of her official visits and not much has changed for her over the past month. I wrote this on July 3 about Fleary and it’s still very much a battle between Duke, UCLA, and LSU. UCLA has the NIL, while LSU has the best relationship with Fleary and the brand and stage Fleary wants. I think it’s likely between those two, but don’t want to completely rule out Duke here. The hope is that a decision is made next week sometime, but Fleary has not been in a rush yet this summer, so we’ll see.

*** Lola Lampley is a player LSU is really high on, but it’s early in her recruitment. It seems a bit scattered early, but LSU is clearly one of the top players here, but South Carolina just offered her on Wednesday to get into the mix.

*** Olivia Vukosa remains one of the top prospects on LSU’s board and they’re continuing to recruit her hard, as Redus and Mulkey were in attendance for her games on Saturday and Sunday. Texas, UConn, and Ohio State are the three other main teams in this recruitment so far.

*** Oliviyah Edwards is another big the Tigers love in this class and are recruiting, but it’s still early and I wouldn’t say LSU is the leader, but there’s not much traction with anyone at this point yet. South Carolina will be a big player here eventually I expect.

*** LSU has made progress with Jerzy Robinson the past two months, seemingly moving into her top group, in competition with all of the west coast schools and UConn. I’m interested to see how her official visits are lined up this fall.

Reminder of official visit dates so far:

Autumn Fleary – March 13-16

Trinity Jones – Sept 12

Kelsi Andrews – Sept 12

Jacy Abii – Sept 12

Lola Lampley – Oct 10

Olivia Vukosa – Oct 10

New offer for 2028

LSU offered Ella Peper last week, who has been one of the favorite players of LSU’s staff and Kim Mulkey this summer. It’s obviously extremely early, but LSU wants to make an early impression and get the work done early for a player they look to lock up in a couple years.