LSU DAILY NEWS

Fast forward to this weekend. If it could go wrong for LSU, it did. From walks, hit batters, wild pitches, defensive blunders, missed opportunities at the plate and not being able to convert with runners in scoring position — all of it has shown up at times. And when you’re playing teams that are on fire offensively, like Duke and UCLA, those issues get exposed quickly. LSU was able to hit the ball just not able to convert, and when they did get hard hit balls, it was typical

For many elite prospects, attention arrives early. Rankings, hype, and expectations follow long before high school begins. For Analiese Holmes, the foundation has been built differently — through consistency, preparation, and measurable results. As she enters her high school career at Pineville, Holmes already carries a résumé shaped by strong production, defensive reliability, and a clear sense of pride in representing Louisiana on a national stage.

That daily challenge has shaped Lassiter’s identity within the lineup. Torina recently described her as a player who makes the offense “brave,” unafraid to gather information, attack pitchers, and provide feedback — traits that make her well suited for a leadoff role.

With six games across four days at Tiger Park, LSU’s opening weekend becomes the first real opportunity to see how a nationally ranked team responds to different styles, different tempos, and early pressure. From Power-4 physicality to a 40-win mid-major, this field is designed to test sharpness — not just talent.

Few prospects in the 2028 class check as many boxes as AJ Davis out of Denham Springs, Louisiana. Highly touted and preparing to be heavily recruited come September 1st of this year, when coaches can start officially recruiting 2028 juniors. Davis’s game is built on a rare combination of confidence, discipline, speed, and versatility — traits that consistently show up both in the stat line and in high-pressure moments.

This installment of the watchlist highlights a group of athletes whose games already scale beyond their age group — players performing against elite competition while continuing to add layers to their development. From nationally recognized headliners to Louisiana-grown difference makers, this group represents the type of early evaluations college staffs monitor closely. Spoiler there are no pitchers in this group, next series will be pitcher heavy.

head coach Beth Torina made clear, this season will not be defined by what LSU already knows — it will be shaped by leadership growth, pitching depth, and relentless competition throughout the roster.

LSU proved it could score without power. Now, with distributed damage layered onto elite decision-making, the Tigers have removed their most obvious limitation without compromising their foundation.

For decades, LSU has not merely produced elite athletes — it has produced icons, athletes who transcend sport, dominate the global stage, and shape culture. The Blue-Ribbon Program, built to align Nike’s most recognizable ethos with a singular athletic institution, landed exactly where it belonged: Baton Rouge.

At 12–0 with two nonconference games left, LSU Women’s Basketball isn’t just winning, it’s overwhelming opponents in nearly every measurable way. As the Tigers prepare to open SEC play on January 1st at 7:00 p.m. in Baton Rouge, the numbers paint a picture of a team operating at a national-championship pace.

Savage arrives with a résumé that mirrors many of the traits LSU fans once associated with Moffitt. Known for demanding, high-intensity programs, Savage emphasizes both mental resilience and football-specific conditioning.

LSU softball’s fall season showcased transfer impact, freshman flashes, and growing depth as the Tigers prepare for the 2025 campaign.