The Reveille 07-06-26

Here are the current, future and recently completed construction projects on LSU’s campus.

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PROGRESS MADE

LSU’s Master Plan is changing the face of campus. See what’s done, next up

BY LAURA ALLEN Editor-in-Chief

LSU’s campus is ever-evolving, with projects to expand, renovate or rebuild constantly underway.

All of the projects currently under construction, aside from standard maintenance work, are part of the university’s Master Plan, a document written in 2017 that outlines LSU’s plans to make campus infrastructure more accessible and aligned with its academic and research goals.

The plan includes the muchanticipated new library, which will replace the original LSU Library. LSU is also notably restructuring its transportation systems, slowly moving parking away from the central campus and instead prioritizing bus systems, walkability and parking on the outskirts of campus.

Still, these projects are only some of the additions LSU is introducing. Here are the current, future and recently completed construction projects that are changing the face of LSU.

Projects currently under construction

Huey

P. Long Field House renovations

The Huey P. Long Field House, located on Field House Drive, is currently undergoing Phase 2 of renovations, which will include renovations to the South Wing and the addition of an adjoining Anatomy Lab.

Construction begins this month; the South Wing is expected to be completed in August, and the Anatomy Lab in January 2027. The estimated cost for the project is $11 million.

Military Science Building relocation and renovation

LSU is relocating the Military Science Building to the former Louisiana Emerging Technology Center, located on South Stadium Drive and East Parker Boulevard. The current Military Science Building will be demolished after the relocation, and the new Construction and Advanced Manufacturing Building will be built on the site.

Construction began this past February, and it is anticipated to wrap up in February 2027. The estimated cost is $23 million.

Julian T. White Hall exterior repairs

Julian T. White Hall, formerly known as the Design Building and located on Field House Drive, is undergoing repairs to the exterior wall where the 40-year-old brick facade has begun to separate from the building.

The brick veneer was removed after structural testing indicated that the original brick ties had rusted with age and exposure. The plan is to replace the old brick facade with a more durable clay tile wall system. In the meantime, however, the building has been wrapped in a gray waterproof

membrane to protect against the elements.

The original brick was removed in 2025, while the new clay tile wall will begin installation this summer and will be completed in the spring or summer of 2027, approximately. The estimated cost of construction is $16.5 million, and it is not laid out in the Master Plan because it is considered required maintenance work.

South Quad Residence Halls

Attendance has been on the rise here at LSU for years, and on-campus housing has become scarce, with LSU even converting its on-campus East and West Campus Apartments to all-freshmen housing for this coming school year.

LSU’s new South Quad Residence Halls mark a major expansion of housing, adding 1,266 beds for first-year students across two six-story dormitories, totaling about 292,000 square feet. The new halls, located on South Quad Drive near Patrick F. Taylor Hall, will be home to the Engineering and Business Residential Colleges.

As with most residence halls, the South Quad dorms will include lounge rooms, study spaces, common areas and outdoor courtyards. They will also include integrated classroom spaces, fitness amenities in collaboration with the UREC and on-site food lockers where students can receive LSU Dining deliveries straight to their building.

Construction on the residence halls began in October 2025, and they are anticipated to open for the fall 2027 semester. The estimated cost of construction is $168.87 million, and it is being delivered as a public-private partnership. The project has caused some road closures in the South Quad area.

Park & Geaux Mobility Hub

As part of its initiative to decentralize campus parking, LSU is expanding its Park & Geaux operations and amenities.

The Park & Geaux Mobility Hub will be built at the existing parking lot at Tiger Park East, near Skip Bertman Drive and River Road. The hub will include indoor air conditioning, covered waiting areas for riders, as well as amenities like vending machines, restrooms and information screens.

The hub is estimated to cost $7.36 million and be operational by August this year. Some roads near Tiger Park are closed for improvements.

Parker Coliseum and Livestock Show Barn renovations

Renovations to improve the functionality and longevity of John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum and other LSU Agricultural Center facilities like the Livestock Show Barn are underway. The facilities are located on South Stadium Drive between Highland Road and East Parker Boulevard.

The renovations to the existing

Show Barn and Coliseum offices, which began in February and are expected to wrap up in December, are estimated to cost around $7 million.

Projects in the design phase LSU Library

Replacing the original library built in 1958, the new LSU Library will serve as the academic hub of campus. The new space is one of the main campus additions outlined in the Master Plan and is intended to be more than just a traditional library, featuring study spots, state-of-the-art technology, research support services, gathering spaces and more.

The library is also being relocated to where the First Century Quad and Next Century Quad meet, bridging the space between central campus with the existing Quad and the future growth of LSU with the South Quad.

The library is currently in the construction-documents design phase, and the completion date is to be determined. The estimated cost of the project is nearly $208.7 million, which includes the construction of the library itself, infrastructure, enabling renovations, demolitions and relocation work.

An anticipated completion date has not been determined.

Construction and Advanced Manufacturing Building

This new academic hall, spanning roughly 147,000 square feet, will support construction education, innovation, advanced manufacturing, applied research and workforce development — areas aligned specifically with Louisiana-based industry.

The facility will boast classrooms, research labs and a highbay area for hands-on construction work. The architecture will also reflect the character of the First Century Quad, with a walkable colonnade and traditional arches.

The CAAM Building will be built on the Military Science Building site, which will be demolished, at the corner of South Stadium Drive and East Parker Boulevard. The project is in the schematic design phase, and a completion date has not been determined yet. The total estimated cost is $117 million.

Construction and Engineering

Student Hall

The Construction and Engineering Student Hall will feature classrooms, an auditorium and collaborative areas, all intended to support LSU’s growing engineering and construction programs. CESH will be located southeast of the new CAAM Building on South Stadium Drive.

The building is in the concept design phase, and an anticipated completion date has not been determined. The estimated cost is $30 million.

Headhouse renovations

The LSU Headhouse building,

located on South Campus Drive in the Greenhouse District, was historically connected to the university’s greenhouses before they were demolished to make way for Azalea Hall and Camellia Hall.

The Headhouse renovations, which currently have a budget of $5.7 million, will turn the old greenhouse into a campus dining venue. The project is in the design development phase. Renovations will begin this fall and are expected to end in fall 2027. The Headhouse renovations are also classified as a historic renovation project.

Energy, Coast & Environment lab ventilation and hood replacement

Renovations to the ECE Building, located on South Quad Drive, will replace the existing lab ventilation system. The renovations will begin in the fall and are expected to wrap up in spring 2027. The estimated cost of the renovations is $3.72 million, and the project is classified as a deferred maintenance project under the Master Plan.

Campus Lake site improvements

The two-phase lake improvement plan includes drainage improvements, stump removals, dredging and site enhancements at Campus Lake, located at South Stadium Drive and West Lakeshore Drive.

The Phase 1 stump removal and drainage improvements were completed in 2025, and Phase 2 dredging and site enhancements will start this summer and go into November.

The estimated cost of the improvements is $3.5 million, and they fall under maintenance and improvements in the Master Plan.

Completed projects

OLOL Health Interdisciplinary Science Building

LSU recently completed construction on its Our Lady of the Lake Health Interdisciplinary Science Building, a 200,000-squarefoot, four-story academic building located at the intersection of Tower Drive and South Stadium Drive.

The new building houses five main disciplines, including biological sciences; chemistry; geology and geophysics; mathematics; and physics and astronomy.

The building features advanced teaching labs, classrooms and collaborative research spaces. It will also be the new home of the Dairy Store, which is relocating from the Dairy Science Building on Campus Drive.

Construction began in February 2024, and the building will be open for classes this fall. The total estimated cost is about $166.14 million, which covers infrastructure work, renovations to the Food Science Building and the demolition of the old Dairy Science Building.

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NEWS LOCAL PLANTS

St. Alban’s Chapel has first certified native garden on campus

BY GARRETT MCENTEE Managing Editor

Just outside St. Alban’s Chapel, located on LSU’s campus at the corner of Highland Road Dalrymple Drive, is a new garden filled with Louisiana native plants that are already attracting butterflies and bumblebees just weeks after being planted.

This garden is also making campus history. Certified this June by the Louisiana Native Plant Society, it is the first native plant garden on LSU’s campus.

The project was led by a congregant at St. Alban’s, Emily Stich, who is a licensed landscaper and also the president of the Louisiana Native Plant Society.

With help from fellow congregants Keith Pope and Mike Jacobsen — and under the watchful eye of her supervisor and dog Penny — Stich spent roughly two weeks in February yanking out weeds, sowing the soil and transplanting native plants.

Stich decided to uproot the previous garden for a few reasons, chief among them beauty and education.

“It looked horrible,” said Stich. “[I] decided to yank it all out before the cool ended. And fortunately, our new minister

gave me grace. I should have asked permission, but I got forgiveness.”

Beyond beautifying the chapel, Stich intends for this garden to serve as a learning opportunity for visitors.

“All of the plants are labeled with both the botanical and common names, and I’m hoping to encourage the congregation and the many students who go here, who attend services here or eat here a lot, to use native plants on their own properties,” said Stich.

Stich plans to give presentations on the importance of native plants for ecosystems to students, fellow congregants or curious individuals.

The process of becoming a certified garden by the Louisiana Native Plant Society states that the garden must have a certain percentage or the number of native plants, such as 25% or 25 native plants for a bronze ranking.

Stich labels these native plants in the garden at St. Alban’s with both their common names and botanical names on flowerbed signs next to the plant that they denote.

Some of the native plants in the garden include black-eyed Susans, or the Rudbeckia hirta, a flower that blooms in colors from orange to yellow. Also planted is the dense blazing star, or the Liatris spicata, a tall, bright purple flower.

Beyond flowers, there are Rattlesnake masters, or Eryngium yuccifolium; manfredas, also known as Manfreda variegata; and much more.

After Stich submitted a request for certification, a member of the LSU Hilltop Arbo -

retum, which serves as a local representative for the society, examined the garden for the aforementioned qualifiers and awarded the requestee with their appropriate rank. The garden at St. Alban’s was given a bronze certification.

The importance of native plants in the garden at St. Alban’s cannot be overstated, “Because what we do in our landscape, on our property, matters a lot to the ecosystem, to the fauna and the insects that use native plants that are the basis of everything else,” said Stich.

The garden, still in its youth, is already attracting dozens of pollinators and critters, from bees and butterflies to caterpillars and geckos, demonstrating the impact of native plants in inviting these species to campus.

However, the garden was not planted just for its own sake; it was planted with community in mind. Stich said that the congregation of St. Alban’s Chapel has already responded positively to the inclusion of the garden. She imagines that this engagement will only increase as the garden grows.

In the future, Stich plans on sharing the seeds with others to encourage them to plant native flora themselves, which directly benefits local environments and ecosystems.

“The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps,” said Stich about the garden.

LSU cut more than two dozen positions within administrative offices Thursday to redirect funds toward faculty and research, according The Advocate.

A total of 25 positions have been eliminated across administrative departments, including marketing, student engagement and executive departments. These changes are reflective of LSU’s goal of becoming a top 50 research university under LSU President Wade Rousse.

“Louisiana deserves transformational change from LSU,” Rousse said. “I committed to streamlining operations and finding efficiencies so the university can focus on, and afford, the faculty needed to become a top 50 research institution.”

LSU will redirect the funds from the eliminated positions to increase faculty, a step that Rousse believes is necessary to achieve the university’s research goals.

Ranking in the top 50 research institutions would not only increase LSU’s academic prestige, but also potentially bring in more grants. Already, LSU has made strides in research, having recently surpassed $600 million in annual research activity, breaking a record of growth for the fifth year in a row.

Vals’ traditional menu, bright decor shake up BR’s Mexican food scene

BY PAUL TIBBETS Staff Writer

Expanding from New Orleans, Vals is taking over 7242 Perkins Road to bring the newest Mexican restaurant to hit the Capital City.

ENTERTAINMENT PAUL’ S PLATE

What was once both a McAlister’s Deli and, most recently, a Rock Paper Taco is now home to a bright pink building full of splashes of greenery and sleek, modern architecture.

Vals formerly was just a New Orleans spot, opening in 2020, but over the last year it has been teasing its expansion into Baton Rouge. After a few delays, construction and remodeling finished just earlier this year and Vals Baton Rouge had its grand opening on Wednesday.

With a striking color palette from the outside, the restaurant is hard to miss. The interior keeps up this vibe, whether in the patio area at the entrance or in the atmospheric interior stretching the length of the building.

Vals has a bit of a minimalist aesthetic inside, but I believe this works to its advantage. The sparser walls and moody lighting elevate the more modern and unique feel of the restaurant.

Preluding the meal itself, I tried the chips and queso. While this might not be a big thing for other customers, I like my chips slightly seasoned when paired with a dip. One thing I appreciate about Vals’ chips is that they are served with a fine bit of seasoning, no extra work required.

The queso itself was pretty standard fare cheese dip — and still pretty great. Mixed in with the thick melted cheese are some chiles along with a generous helping of diced tomatoes on top to add a bit of freshness and zing.

For my main course, I ordered a couple of different tacos: the fried fish and the cochinita pibil. The former is the perfect summer taco with a delicate balance of savory and refreshing.

The fried fish taco is topped with a cabbage slaw and spicy pickled onions, which serve as a bright and tangy counterpart to the buttery and flaky fish. I loved how crispy the fried fish was. There was a strong variety of textures for a well-rounded bite.

As for the cochinita pibil taco, the meat itself is bursting with flavor. If you do not know, cochinita pibil is pork shoulder that is marinated in achiote, citrus juices and various other spices. This combination of flavors leaves you with a tender meat that is packed full of umami and tang.

The pork could honestly be eaten by itself, as it was extremely juicy and had a rich, dynamic

flavor profile. It is made all the better with the addition of habanero and pickled onions topping it.

While the pork did tend to overtake whatever else is around it, the onions and peppers add a much-appreciated crunch and tart edge to it.

Overall, Vals is a welcome addition to the culinary canon of Baton Rouge. In a sea of everincreasing and banal Tex-Mex restaurants, it is great to see that there is still room for something delicious and original.

To learn more about Vals Baton Rouge hours and menu, you can check out its Instagram.

7.5/10

SPORTS PAZ TO THE PORTAL

Marcos Paz transfers from LSU baseball, future destination linked to other SEC teams

BY ALEX SHEESLEY Staff Writer

One of LSU baseball’s most promising freshman arms is moving on from the program. The righthanded pitcher entered the transfer portal last week, seeking new pastures for 2027 and beyond.

Marcos Paz was up and down but heavily involved throughout the Tigers’ previous season. He made 17 appearances across the year and tallied 29 1/3 innings in his freshman year. His results were very Jekyll and Hyde — he would be unhittable at times or the victim of a shelling by the opposing offenses.

It came together for a poor ERA mark of 9.20, but also some positive underlying metrics like a K/9 north of 12. He also excelled at limiting walks or free passes, combining for just 31 walks or hit batters and only plunking five batters.

With the writing on the wall for LSU’s dismal season, his results and an open starter spot due to Cooper Moore’s injury compelled head coach Jay Johnson and pitching coach Nate Yeskie to entrust Paz with starts against SEC foes late in the season.

He got four starts in LSU’s final four series of the year against Mississippi State, South Carolina,

Georgia and Florida. Johnson described those starts as “rebooting” Paz after he missed his last year of high school rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.

Those starts weren’t always peachy, but the pitcher, rated by Perfect Game as America’s 33rd best freshman entering the season, closed it with a few strong outings. His best came against South Carolina, allowing a single run and hit in a career-long five innings of work. He fanned eight batters that night and earned high praise from Johnson postgame.

“That’s where he’s headed,” Johnson said. “He’s got the ability to be one of the best pitchers in the country.”

It was clear that Johnson intended for Paz to play an important role at LSU going forward. What became less clear as LSU entered the offseason was what that important role would be.

The Tigers’ ace, Casan Evans, is set to return as their Friday night starter in 2027. Saturday starter Cooper Moore, whom Paz started in place of, announced his intent to return in 2027 shortly after LSU’s elimination in May. Sunday’s job appeared open at the start of the offseason, but that door slammed shut with LSU’s acquisition of top pitcher Landon Hood via the portal.

Space won’t be available at starting pitcher until 2028, but it’s likely that Paz feels ready to make an impact now. A move to the transfer portal to try and find a place to do that supports that theory.

Paz’s move is likely to keep him in the SEC, a move that could ruffle some feathers in Baton Rouge.

Shortstop Steven Milam, who elected to forgo the MLB Draft in 2026 and return for a senior year in

2027, commented a brief but semicolorful reaction to capture his disbelief of the move on an Instagram post breaking Paz’s decision to transfer. Milam has since deleted the comment.

Paz is a native of Carrollton, Texas, a suburb about 30 minutes north of Dallas. Though other teams, including SEC powerhouse Georgia, have reached out, the bidding for Paz’s services appears to

be between the SEC sides in his home state: Texas and Texas A&M. The loss of Paz is a blow for LSU’s staff as a whole, even if not at the front end. The Tigers had a dismal bullpen in 2026, and Paz could’ve been an answer for that in his second season post-surgery. Instead, it’ll rely on its previous arsenal of arms and new additions like former USC freshman Diego Velazquez to secure outs in 2027.

Two former LSU pitchers set to play in MLB All-Star Futures Game

BY ALEX SHEESLEY Staff Writer

After claiming college baseball’s ultimate prize a year ago, two of LSU baseball’s best arms in 2025 will be in the spotlight during MLB All-Star Week. Pitchers Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson are set to represent their professional clubs in the MLB All-Star Futures Game this weekend in Philadelphia.

The Futures Game serves as a showcase for the best players who have yet to debut in MLB. This year’s edition will be played on July 12, pitting top prospects on farm teams for American League ballclubs against those in the National League.

Players from each level of Minor League Baseball, which begins in Single-A and ranks up in skill from High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, are represented on the rosters for 2026’s contest. Anderson and Eyanson, who respectively play in Double-A on the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox farm systems, will be reunited as teammates on the American League’s 25-man roster. Anderson currently ranks as the fifth best prospect in all of baseball and the top prospect in the

Mariners’ system, according to MLB Pipeline. He was selected third overall by Seattle in the MLB Draft last summer and has dominated in his first professional season.

The power lefty has made 13 starts as a professional, all with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. He’s been nothing short of exceptional there, boasting an 8-0 record and

a 1.22 ERA. For context, 2023 first round pick and former LSU pitcher Paul Skenes had a 1.32 ERA in seven starts at the level above Anderson’s in 2024 before he got the call to the majors.

Eyanson joins Anderson after a similarly strong start to his professional career. He was selected in the third round of the draft last summer and was shut down by the Red Sox system for the remainder of 2025. In 2026, he had a strong spring that led to a quick rise out of High-A ball in the regular season. He allowed only one run, which was off of a home run, in 20 1/3 innings at that level.

He now resides with Boston’s Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs. While he has less sample size than his teammate, Eyanson’s been outstanding in his own right. He is yet to take a loss at any level of professional baseball, and he has a 1.48 ERA at his current level across 30 1/3 innings.

The hot start to his professional career has jolted Eyanson up in scouting grades, where talent evaluators have been impressed with his plus slider and raised his overall grade to be firmly above average, as well as on prospect boards. MLB Pipeline ranks him as the sec-

entered pro ball with the expectation of an immediate impact-maker, but Seattle boasts one of baseball’s best rotations and can’t afford the risk of a rookie, no matter how talented, struggling in his first few starts.

Eyanson’s path to the show is a bit more clear. Boston has been dreadful in 2026 and are well out of any contention for a playoff spot. A trade deadline fire sale might free up space to let high-promise prospects break into the big league club. Still, it is unclear if that plan involves Eyanson, who would climb five levels of the Boston system in a year if he reaches the Red Sox in 2026.

Cham-

ond best player in Boston’s system, and he sits 69th in Tuesday’s latest top 100 prospects list. The timeline for when these two get called up is volatile, but it probably won’t come until next year at the earliest. Anderson’s been incredible and

No matter what, the futures game selection indicates the continuation of pitching pedigree to come out of LSU in the past halfdecade.

The honor adds to a season that has seen several milestones for one-time LSU arms. This includes Kevin Gausman reaching 2,000 career strikeouts, Gage Jump’s electric start at the major league level, Aaron Nola and Paul Skenes’ selections to the Italian and American national teams at the World Baseball Classic and a likely nod to the All-Star Game for Skenes.

Fans weigh in on LSU softball head coach following 2026 season

BY RAMI BURKS Sports Editor

The NCAA transfer portal has created drama on every team since players no longer have to sit for a season after transferring. LSU softball is more affected than ever in 2026, as fans have put the head coach in the hot seat.

Eight softball players entered the transfer portal after the Tigers’ season ended, but LSU athletic director Verge Ausberry says head coach Beth Torina’s job is safe. This has led many fans to speculate about the program’s future.

“No complaints with Beth Torina,” Ausberry told WAFB-TV on June 1. “She’s done a great job. Her team does well off the field.”

While it is true that Torina’s teams do well off the field, many fans are frustrated that the Tigers haven’t been to the Women’s College World Series since 2017. When LSU took on the No. 1 overall seed, Alabama, in the NCAA Super Regional round, the fans didn’t even make it through the final game of the season before criticizing Torina.

“Beth ball is in full swing,” softball fan Chad Governdale

commented on Facebook about the LSU lineup for Game 2. “Gonna end up with one run in two games.”

Torina has been at LSU since the 2012 season and has taken over her predecessor in most wins as a LSU softball head coach with 618 wins as a Tiger. Along with these wins, she has led LSU to four WCWS appearances including three consecutive seasons from 2015-2017.

Fans have been criticizing the softball program for several years now, but with the newly appointed athletic director saying Torina’s job is safe, fans are more fired up than ever.

Much of the criticism from fans centers on LSU’s lack of postseason success in recent seasons.

“Personally, I like Beth Torina,” softball fan Sydney Watts told the Reveille. “But I think NIL has began to play a huge role in college sports, most recently softball. I don’t fault Coach Torina or any of the players for transferring. I think LSU has to pour more into the softball program if it wants to see better results in postseason and players staying a full four years.”

Five players have entered the

portal since Ausberry’s comment was released. Although LSU has announced no coaching changes, the number of transfer portal departures has fueled speculation among fans.

The excessive number of players entering the portal, combined with Ausberry’s statement, has fans more confused than ever. With two of the starting infielders graduating, two hitting the portal and the ace pitcher signing with Texas Tech, it’s starting to look less like a promising future at Tiger Park and more like trouble.

“As a fan, really starting to dislike [the] portal,” softball fan Kathy Sims commented on Facebook in response to the portal entries. “Wish them all well, but good googly.”

Watts made a comparison of her own to how NIL is impacting the transfer portal, saying that if someone were job hopping at a corporate job, nobody would blame the players or bat an eye.

“If you work a corporate job and are offered more money to go somewhere else, you would,” Watts said. “Espescially if you’re going to get more money and the program or company is in a better position [than the

previous one].”

After the 2026 season ended, Torina and the fans both had hopes for the 2027 season due to the amount of turnover between seasons. Torina appeared to be excited to get to work for the upcoming season. She seemed motivated to make it past the super regional round in 2027.

“This team grew a ton. They

finished strong,” Torina said. “We’d like to continue to play on, but we’ve got to keep growing and continue to find ways to do that.”

The original plan for the 2027 season has fallen through because of the madness in the transfer portal, and only time will tell what will happen next softball season.

LSU softball adds three portal pickups. Here’s what they bring

BY RAMI BURKS Sports Editor

As the dust settles on eight LSU softball players entering the transfer portal, three portal commitments have been made for the Tigers softball team. These three players are expected to make an immediate impact after the team lost valuable players in their respective positions.

Mickey Winchell

Outfielder Mickey Winchell transferred to LSU for her graduate transfer season in 2027. She is coming from Notre Dame, where she played consistently for three of the four seasons she was there. After center fielder Jalia Lassiter graduated in 2026, Winchell will be expected to take over the defensive reins.

In her senior year, at Notre Dame she went 36-for-110 at the plate, effectively batting .327. Defensively, she made only two errors, which makes her fit LSU’s traditional “Outfield U” narrative.

The stats from her senior year showcase her ability to take over in a spot the Tigers need filled with a strong, competitive athlete.

Winchell seems to check all those boxes, and she revealed in her commitment post that LSU did just that for her.

“From my very first call with LSU, I felt [God] was opening a door that I was meant to walk through,” Winchell said through LSU softball’s social media. “As I ended the final chapter of my collegiate career, I wanted a pro -

gram that would challenge me to grow as an athlete, a leader and a woman of God.”

Franklin moves back to her natural position of third base.

In her sophomore season, she batted .457 after going 86for-188 at the plate. Defensively, she committed only four errors all season.

LSU has been known for its amazing defense in the outfield, and the addition of Winchell is in an effort to continue that while filling the Lassiter-shaped hole in center field.

Madison Pickens

Madison Pickens is another stellar outfielder joining the Tigers for the 2027 season. She is transferring from Louisville after her first two seasons with the Cardinals. Most Tiger fans predict she will be the starting right fielder after current Tiger Alix

Offensively, she will provide support to the returning LSU shortstop Kylee Edwards’ heavy bat in the middle of the lineup. Along with the .457 batting average in 2026, Pickens hit 11 home runs, 19 doubles and four triples.

Her power numbers will be key since the news broke that 2025 NFCA All-American and 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, Tori Edwards, entered the transfer portal in early June.

With Char Lorenz returning to play left field and the addition of Winchell and Pickens in right and center field, the Tigers are set up to continue their exceptionality in the outfield.

Mackenzie Pickens

Mackenzie Pickens is also transferring to LSU after her first two years at Ole Miss. The incoming junior is a middle infielder but boasts a strong middle-of-the-order bat.

Since Edwards has announced her return and fans expect Franklin to take third base, Mackenzie Pickens will likely have a tough time finding a position to play in LSU’s infield.

However, her power numbers at the plate should support her push into the starting lineup as a designated player.

Statistically, she had 48 hits and brought in 43 RBIs in her sophomore season in the SEC.

Despite hitting .271, she played in the SEC, which means she has already faced the same competition LSU faces throughout the season.

Much like her sister, she hit 11 home runs, along with eight doubles and zero triples. Mackenzie Pickens will join her sis -

ter at Tiger Park for their junior season.

The Tigers have had a tough time with the number of transfers in 2026, but picking up these three players could be promising for the team to return to Super Regionals and possibly even make it to Oklahoma City.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup proves that humanity is better together

WARREN’S WAY

JEANNE WARREN Columnist

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been the biggest in history, and it is giving us something rare: unity and hope.

For the first time in what feels like forever, an event has allowed us to open our phones to good news. For a few weeks, political riffraff, fearmongering and hate have been overshadowed by something positive. Now, our feeds are filled with strangers laughing, crying and celebrating together.

Controversy often gets clicks, and in this digital age it’s easy to feel divided with bad news bombarding your feed. It’s been extremely refreshing to see something so positive that so many people can enjoy together.

With 48 teams instead of 32, 104 matches instead of 64 and three host nations, the tourna-

ment has opened its doors to an overflow of countries and cultures. More nations have had the opportunity to participate than ever before, meaning more people are seeing themselves represented on the world’s biggest sporting stage.

What’s been happening off the field has been just as inspiring. Throughout this process, people seem to have gained a deeper appreciation for one another. Mindless labels that seem to dominate and divide our society have been forgotten for the love of the game.

They don’t seem to matter quite as much — and they shouldn’t. We’ve found ourselves celebrating incredible moments with complete strangers. Personally, that’s something I don’t experience very often anymore.

Within the game, there’s healthy rivalry and genuine care for each other, something lacking in the human experience right now.

People who cannot speak

the same languages are communicating through the universal language of sport, and it’s proving that love really does transcend all boundaries. It’s widespread, and it all comes down to who you’re cheering for — nothing else. There is no language barrier when cheers and excitement erupt from thousands of people in the stands.

I, for one, am so happy to be seeing healthy rivalry instead of hostility, on and off the field.

It seems that in Texas, everything really is bigger, including Japan’s newfound love affair with cowboy culture. Japanese fans have gone viral for embracing their host state with oversized cowboy hats, Western boots and country-themed outfits.

Ranch dressing has become an unexpected World Cup celebrity, with visitors posting videos of themselves lathering this very American condiment on burgers, pizza, wings and just about everything else they

can get their hands on. The world has been unified through an internet-wide joke.

These moments might seem trivial, but they’re exactly what we need and what makes the World Cup so special. All we needed was a little joy and for things to not be so serious.

Fans have been filmed trading jerseys and coining new chants. They’re teaching each other dances, trying cultural foods and discovering a taste for the beloved hot dog. It doesn’t get more American than that.

There’s been hope for the underdogs, too. Paraguay has defeated Germany. Morocco has eliminated the Netherlands. Egypt defeated Australia in a penalty shootout. Cape Verde made history simply by reaching the tournament.

Moments like these remind us why people fall in love with sports in the first place. They’re unpredictable, emotional and often lead to joy and memories bigger than the game itself.

Sometimes, all it takes is one incredible performance to inspire an entire nation.

The world hasn’t suddenly become perfect because of a soccer tournament. The problems will still be waiting after the final whistle blows.

However, for a few weeks, billions of people have found something to feel connected by and smile about. It might be enough to bring us all a little closer. The World Cup has loudly reminded us of everything we still have in common: love.

For one month, the only side that matters is who you’re cheering for. It’s not about the color of your skin, it’s about the color stitched across your jersey. It’s not about who you love, it’s about what team you love. The World Cup has shown that differences shouldn’t divide us; they should strengthen us.

Jeanne Warren is a 20-year-old mass communications major from Baton Rouge, La.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Laura Allen Editor-in-Chief

Emily Boudreaux Production Editor