Former LSU point guard Bella Hines was not going to enter the transfer portal until a conversation with the coaching staff went sour last weekend. She has since committed to TCU and the Tigers have since added a pair of experienced guards.
The mystery behind her unexpected departure no longer seems to be a mystery.
It sounds like Kim Mulkey and the women’s college basketball coaching staff in Baton Rouge were looking to rebuild their backcourt and/or did not see eye to eye with the rising sophomore or her family on the future at guard. Otherwise, the not-so-mutual parting of ways does not make any sense.
Bella Hines hit the transfer portal.
Hines was ranked as one of the top 35 prospects in the recruiting Class of 2025. She chose to play at LSU over Iowa, Baylor, Arizona, Florida State, Texas Tech, N.C. State, West Virginia, TCU and Kansas State. It was a huge get but there was not enough room at the inn. The roster was already stacked with guards, which did not allow for a lot of playing time.
The true freshman point guard averaged only 13 minutes per game during the 2025-26 season and most of her time on the floor came against lesser opponents. However, she shot 44.9% from the field for an average of 4.2 points per game and got valuable experience during the NCAA Tournament.
Most people though Hines was going to play an integral role for the Tigers next season, myself included. She repeatedly stated that she was not going to enter the transfer portal and wanted to stay.
And then something happened. We don’t know exactly what.
Bella Hines entered the transfer portal less than ~36 hours after her last public affirmation to LSU. Her father alluded to some kind of conversation with the coaching staff that didn’t go how they expected. His comments did not provide much clarity about the behind-the-scenes drama. It was cryptic.
That was early last week. Hines committed to play at TCU over the weekend. She will be a crucial in trying to replace Olivia Miles. It was just as big of a get for the Horned Frogs as it was for the Bayou Bengals in the first place.
LSU added two veteran guards.
Although Hines did not come back, Mulkey and her staff were very quick to replace her. LSU added Laila Reynolds, a three-year starter at Florida, and Jaida Williams, the floor general for Iowa State.
According to one report, the Tigers had their eye on a different point guard (likely Liv McGill ?) before they heard her asking price. At that point, it was a quick pivot to Williams.
But here’s the thing. Per Jacques Doucet, LSU was not even going to recruit a point guard until Jada Richard unexpectedly entered the transfer portal at the end of last week.
That makes Hines’ departure even more confusing.
It would be one thing if the rising sophomore left the team because Mulkey told her she was going to add another veteran player at her same position but Doucet’s report does not correspond to that timeline. Richard didn’t leave until after Hines left…
If that is true, and the Tigers really truly were not going to recruit another point guard, I would assume that Hines was told she would not be the primary ball-handler next season and that Richard was going to get the keys. Perhaps without any kind of opportunity to win the job in camp? That conversation ultimately led Bella Hines to TCU. But then Richard bounced too— with a “do not contact” tag.
Maybe LSU wasn’t going to meet either of their asking prices? Maybe someone paid more? I don’t know.
That is just my theory. Let me know your thoughts at Grayson@brobible.com.