Bradenton

BRADENTON – LaDazhia Williams, a 2017 Lakewood Ranch High graduate, became a national champion Sunday evening when the LSU Tigers routed Iowa 102-85 to win the women’s basketball NCAA National Championship. Williams, who had excelled throughout the tournament, scored 20 points while grabbing 5 rebounds in the title game.

The 6’4 forward scored 24 points to push the Tigers past Utah in the Sweet 16 round, while also having a big night in the team’s semi-final victory over Virginia Tech, scoring 16 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. Williams, a senior transfer from Mizzou, said she made the decision to use her final year of eligibility to transfer to LSU after the school announced it had hired Kim Mulkey as head coach.

Ranked as the nation’s 12th-best forward and No. 48 overall prospect in the class of 2017 by ESPN, Williams was also named Florida’s 8A Player of the Year and was a three-time first-team all-state selection. She is Lakewood Ranch’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Mulkey believes Williams’ stellar tournament play should elevate her to a first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.

"If the WNBA hasn't noticed what she's done in big-time games, then I don't know what they're looking for," Mulkey recently told the Austin American Statesman.