Mississippi State Women’s Basketball Faces First Major Loss to Portal

So far in the early stages of the offseason, it’s been mostly good news for Mississippi State women’s basketball.

Or at least nothing bad or shocking. Two of the most important players to retain have announced their returns to Starkville next year and two players who didn’t see much action have decided to enter the transfer portal.

Now we have our first Bulldog headed to the transfer portal that is a significant loss.

Freshman Jaylah Lampley announced on social media her decision to enter the transfer portal on Tuesday.

THANK YOU HAILSTATE! 🤍 pic.twitter.com/CzsdmW9W4x
— Jaylah Lampley (@JaylahLampley) March 31, 2026

“First, I want to thank God for blessing me with the opportunity to play the sport I love,” Lampley said in a lengthy post. “With that being said, I will be entering my name in the transfer portal with 3 more years of eligibility.”

Lampley was one of three signees in Mississippi State’s most recent recruiting class, and she arrived with plenty of buzz.

The 6-2 forward put together a strong prep career at Lawrence Central High School in Indiana, winning a state title as a junior and finishing as the school’s all‑time leader in scoring, rebounds, and steals. She averaged 18 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and nearly two assists that season, which set the bar high for her move to Starkville.

She wasted no time showing why the staff was excited about her. Lampley opened her college career with 11 points and six rebounds against Davidson, followed by 12 points against Georgia State. A few games later, she dropped 17 on Mississippi Valley State.

Her best stretch came in back‑to‑back games against La Salle and Samford.

She scored 18 and grabbed six rebounds in the first matchup, then posted a career‑high 24 points and 10 rebounds against Samford for her first double‑double. That week earned her SEC freshman of the week honors.

She carried that momentum into league play. Lampley made several SEC starts and delivered strong outings, including 14 points against Alabama and a 16‑point, nine‑rebound performance against Arkansas.

Lampley’s departure doesn’t derail the program, but it does sting. She was one of the young pieces Mississippi State hoped to develop, and her size and scoring ability fit well with what the staff wants to build.

Losing a player who showed real flashes as a freshman means the Bulldogs now have another hole to fill in a frontcourt that already needed depth.

The good news is that the core of the roster remains intact, and the staff has been aggressive in the portal before. But Lampley was a player with long‑term upside, and those are the ones you’d prefer to keep.

Now Mississippi State has to replace her production and her potential at a time when roster movement is only just beginning.

Mississippi State Women’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

Outgoing

Awa Fane, 5-8, G, Jr.
Rocío Jiménez, 6-7, R-So.
Jaylah Lampley, 6-2, Fr.