BREAKING: Karly Weathers Commits to LSU, Citing Championship Vision and Mulkey’s Development

BATON ROUGE, La. — In a move that signals LSU’s continued dominance on the recruiting trail, former Alabama guard Karly Weathers has announced her commitment to the Tigers, choosing LSU over a host of SEC and national suitors.

The 5-foot-11 combo guard from Loretto, Tennessee, brings a rare combination of defensive tenacity, playmaking ability, and veteran leadership to a LSU program that has become synonymous with championship contention under head coach Kim Mulkey.

For Weathers, the decision came down to one word: fit.

“LSU has everything I’ve been looking for,” Weathers said. “Coach Mulkey’s track record with guards and her ability to develop players for the next level is unmatched. The moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home.”

A Proven Winner

Weathers arrives in Baton Rouge with a résumé that speaks for itself. A two-time Tennessee Miss Basketball and the 2022 Gatorade Tennessee Girls Basketball Player of the Year, she averaged 23.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 4.0 steals, and 2.0 blocks per game during her senior season at Loretto High School .

At Alabama, Weathers developed into one of the SEC’s most versatile guards. As a senior, she led the Crimson Tide in rebounds (6.1), assists (3.3), and steals (1.6) per game while averaging 9.5 points . Her 1.84 assist-to-turnover ratio ranked among the best in the conference .

But her impact went far beyond the stat sheet. Weathers was named the 2026 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, maintaining a 3.99 GPA as a nursing major while logging more than 360 clinical hours .

“She’s the complete package,” said one SEC assistant coach who recruited Weathers. “She defends, she rebounds, she makes the right play. And she’s a leader in every sense of the word.”

Why LSU?

Weathers’s decision to join the Tigers comes after a decorated four-year career at Alabama, where she started all 30 games as a senior and emerged as the emotional leader of the Crimson Tide .

But the opportunity to compete for championships at LSU proved too compelling to ignore.

“At this stage of my career, I want to win,” Weathers said. “LSU is built to win national championships. Coach Mulkey has proven that. The roster they’re assembling, the culture they’ve built — it’s exactly where I want to be.”

Mulkey has been on a recruiting tear this offseason, adding elite transfers like Jada Williams from Iowa State and Laila Reynolds from Florida, while securing a commitment from five-star center Caroline Bradley . The addition of Weathers gives the Tigers another proven SEC performer who can play multiple positions on the perimeter.

The Mulkey Factor

Weathers’s relationship with Mulkey played a pivotal role in her decision. The two connected immediately during the recruiting process, with Mulkey emphasizing her vision for Weathers’s role in LSU’s system.

“Coach Mulkey is a legend,” Weathers said. “She’s honest, she’s demanding, and she knows how to get the best out of her players. That’s what I want. I want to be pushed. I want to be challenged. I want to win.”

Mulkey, who has won four national championships as a head coach, has a well-documented history of developing guards into professional players. Weathers’s decision to join the Tigers signals that Mulkey’s pitch continues to resonate with the nation’s top talent.

A Roster Built for a Run

Weathers joins a LSU roster that is rapidly becoming one of the deepest in the country. With guards Mikaylah Williams and MiLaysia Fulwiley returning, along with transfers Jada Williams and Laila Reynolds, the Tigers have a backcourt capable of matching up with anyone in the nation .

Add in Bradley, the nation’s top-ranked center, and LSU has the pieces to make a serious run at a national title.

“This is a program that’s built to win now and in the future,” Weathers said. “I’m excited to be part of it.”

The Bottom Line

Karly Weathers could have gone anywhere. She chose LSU because she believes in Kim Mulkey, believes in the program’s trajectory, and believes that Baton Rouge is where her basketball journey takes its next step.

For LSU, landing a player of Weathers’s caliber — a proven SEC starter, a scholar-athlete, and a leader — is another signal that the Tigers are not just competing for championships. They are building a dynasty.

As Weathers put it: “I’m here to win. That’s the only goal.”