LSU Country

Kim Mulkey, LSU Women's Basketball Lose Veteran Backup to the Transfer Portal

Mulkey and Co. continue roster reconstruction in Baton Rouge, working towards adding more newcomers.
Zack Nagy|
Mar 30, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Amani Bartlett (23) shoots during team practice at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mar 30, 2023; Dallas, TX, USA; LSU Lady Tigers forward Amani Bartlett (23) shoots during team practice at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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LSU forward Amani Bartlett will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal after four seasons in Baton Rouge, according to On3 Sports' Talia Goodman.

Bartlett, a reserve piece for Kim Mulkey and the Tigers during her time with the program, suited up in 17 games last season as a senior.

A member of Mulkey's first roster in the Bayou State, Bartlett became the first player to play four years under her at LSU.

Out of high school, Bartlett was labeled as the No. 3 player out of Texas by Premier Basketball and had a 93-scout grade from ESPN HoopGurlz as well.

According to Bartlett's LSU bio, "she was the 2019-20 Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Most Valuable Player, 2020 VYPE Private School Player of the Year and was named to the 2019-20 SPC First Team.

"She was a leader on the 2019-20 Houston Christian team that had a state championship game appearance…Recorded 11 blocks in a single game in January 2020… Ranked No. 51 in the class of 2021 and the No. 12 ranked player at the forward position for her class."

Now, after four seasons with the LSU Tigers, Bartlett will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal for her final season of eligibility. She is the fifth member of the 2024-25 roster to depart the program.

Which players have revealed intentions to leave the program?

The Transfer Portal Departures:

The First Entry: Sa'Myah Smith [Forward]

LSU redshirt-sophomore Sa'Myah Smith has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons in Baton Rouge.

Smith, who wrapped up her third year with the Tigers on Sunday in the Elite Eight, became a key contributor during the NCAA Tournament.

After suffering a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in her knee early in the 2023-24 season, Smith bounced back for the Kim Mulkey's program late in the Tigers' recent season.

She posted averages of 6.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game this year, but her production skyrocketed in the tournament after posting double-doubles in both the Round of 32 and Sweet 16.

Smith joined the LSU Tigers during Mulkey's second season at the helm of the program where she earned limited minutes during LSU's 2023 National Championship run.

Now, after three seasons in Baton Rouge, Smith is headed to join the Virginia Cavaliers, she announced via social media on Sunday.

The Second Entry: Last-Tear Poa [Guard]

LSU guard Last-Tear Poa has officially entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after three seasons, she revealed via social media.

Poa, a member of Kim Mulkey's 2023 National Championship squad, has played a pivotal role for the Tigers across her trio of seasons in the Bayou State.

During the 2024-25 season, Poa appeared in 30 games and made 15 starts for LSU.

She averaged 2.0 points and 1.9 assists across 12.8 minutes a night while playing a role in the Tigers' run to the Elite Eight.

Poa joined LSU ahead of the 2022-23 season after transferring in from Northwest Florida State as a JUCO prospect.

She will look to exercise an extra year of eligibility due to the new JUCO ruling the NCAA passed recently.

The Third Entry: Aalyah Del Rosario [Forward]

The former five-star prospect in the 2023 Recruiting Cycle showed flashes during her freshman campaign with the Tigers, but was unable to take that next step in her second year.

The 6-foot-6 frontcourt piece averaged 4.7 points per game with 3.5 rebounds during the 2023-24 season.

Fast forward to this past year and Del Rosario averaged two points and two rebounds a night on 41.7 percent shooting in six minutes per game.

The Fourth Departure: Jersey Wolfenbarger [Forward]

Wolfenbarger has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal and will depart Baton Rouge after one season with the program, a source confirmed to LSU Tigers On SI. Talia Goodman of On3 Sports first reported the news.

Wolfenbarger recently wrapped up her first season in Baton Rouge as a rotational piece for Mulkey and the Tigers after transferring in from Arkansas.

In her first year with the program, Wolfenbarger served primarily as a backup center for LSU with averages of 4.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with 24 blocks in total on the season.

She played 13.2 minutes per game with nine starts after handling minutes behind both Aneesah Morrow and Sa'Myah Smith.

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Follow Zack Nagy on Twitter: @znagy20 and LSU Tigers On SI: @LSUTigersSI for all coverage surrounding the LSU program.

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Zack Nagy
ZACK NAGY

Zack Nagy is the Managing Editor and Publisher of LSU Country, a Sports Illustrated Publication. Nagy has covered Tiger Football, Basketball, Baseball and Recruiting, looking to keep readers updated on anything and everything involving LSU athletics. 

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