This Lakewood Ranch High alum played a pivotal role in LSU’s historic national title
Bradenton’s LaDazhia Williams is a national champion.
A key member of LSU’s women’s basketball team, Williams had 20 points in the Tigers’ 102-85 victory against the Iowa Hawkeyes to secure the program’s first national title.
Sunday’s game shattered the ratings record for a women’s college basketball game, according to various reports. ESPN announced the game on ABC averaged 9.9 million viewers, USA Today reported.
Williams starred at Lakewood Ranch High before beginning her college career at South Carolina. After her freshman season, she transferred to Missouri where she played for three years. Williams joined LSU for this season after picking up a fifth year of eligibility as a graduate student.
The 6-foot-4 forward was sensational during the NCAA tournament.
“I thought LaDazhia was outstanding,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey told NOLA.com. “But LaDazhia has been playing like that. This was not just a fluke. She’s been on a tear. LaDazhia’s stock has soared throughout the playoffs.”
Williams produced a team-high 24 points in the Sweet 16 to help LSU edge Utah, 66-63, en route to the Tigers’ national title run.
LSU was invited to the White House following its win. Though the tradition is for just the winners to receive an invitation to visit the White House, a social media storm occurred when First Lady Jill Biden said Monday in Colorado she wanted Iowa to join LSU, according to multiple reports.
On Tuesday, the First Lady’s press secretary clarified the remarks via Twitter that the invite is just for LSU.
“The First Lady loved watching the NCAA women’s basketball championship game alongside young student athletes and admires how far women have advanced in sports since the passing of Title IX,” Vanessa Valdivia, the First Lady’s press secretary, wrote. “Her comments in Colorado were intended to applaud the historic game and all women athletes. She looks forward to celebrating the LSU Tigers on their championship win at the White House.”
During her high school career, Williams was a three-time Bradenton Herald Player of the Year and led Lakewood Ranch High to the Class 7A state title game in her junior year. It remains the best finish in program history for the Mustangs.
![LaDazhia Williams, Lakewood Ranch High School, player of the year girls basketball at the second annual “Best of HT Preps” awards banquet with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker and Hall of Famer, Derrick Brooks, that was hosted by the Herald-Tribune at Robarts Arena, Tuesday evening May 23, 2017, in Sarasota, Florida. [Herald-Tribune staff photo / Thomas Bender] Sarasota Best Of Preps Awards Banquet Featuring Derrick Brooks](https://www.miamiherald.com/public/latest-news/ihdxhz/picture273948515/alternates/FREE_1200/USATSI_20340151.jpg "USATSI_20340151.jpg")
This story was originally published April 4, 2023 at 12:45 PM.
