BREAKING NEWS: No. 1 American Forward Kianni Westbrook Officially Commits to LSU Tigers Over SEC Rivals
In a major coup for the LSU Tigers women’s basketball program, the nation’s No. 1 ranked 6-foot-3 forward, Kianni Westbrook, has officially announced her commitment to LSU, choosing the Tigers over powerhouse SEC programs Alabama, Auburn, and Florida. This decision, revealed via a live-streamed event and later confirmed on social media, is being hailed as one of the most significant recruiting victories in recent program history.
Westbrook, a versatile and dominant force on both ends of the court, had been one of the most heavily recruited players in the 2025 class. With her rare combination of athleticism, court vision, and leadership, she’s been compared to some of the greats in women’s college basketball. Her final four schools were all top contenders in the Southeastern Conference, but in the end, LSU’s coaching philosophy, culture, and recent success under head coach Kim Mulkey tipped the scale.
“This was not an easy choice,” Westbrook said during her announcement. “Every program that recruited me made me feel special, but LSU just felt like home. Coach Mulkey’s energy, the way she pushes her players to be great, and the championship mindset they’ve built there — that’s the environment I want to grow in.”
Her commitment is expected to have immediate implications for LSU’s national title aspirations. With her arrival, LSU is now projected to have one of the most complete rosters in college basketball for the 2025-26 season. Westbrook brings elite rebounding, lockdown defense, and the ability to score at all three levels — a rare package that could make her a freshman phenom in Baton Rouge.
For Alabama, Auburn, and Florida, the decision comes as a tough blow, especially after each school made aggressive recruiting pitches and campus visits that seemed promising. Alabama head coach Kristy Curry had even been seen courtside at multiple Westbrook games, showing serious interest. Auburn and Florida had both hoped to rebuild their frontcourts around her talent, but LSU’s growing dominance in recruiting once again proves decisive.
As Kianni Westbrook prepares for her final high school season, the spotlight will only intensify. Already a national name with multiple state titles and MVP honors to her credit, she will now enter the college ranks as one of the most anticipated freshmen in recent memory. LSU fans, meanwhile, can start dreaming bigger — the future just got a whole lot brighter in Baton Rouge.
