Breaking down Victaria Saxton's return and Kierra Fletcher's transfer

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It was an eventful Wednesday for South Carolina women’s basketball, and not because the Gamecocks visited the State House. Four players announced their plans for next season, and another seems to have had the decision made for her.

To nobody’s surprise, Destanni Henderson opted into the WNBA Draft, declining to use her extra COVID year for a super senior season. Her stock will probably never be higher than it is right now, coming off her monster championship game and a strong tournament run.

Victaria Saxton

Saxton surprised almost everyone by turning down the WNBA and deciding to return for a super senior season. Throughout the tournament, Saxton never gave any indication she would return. ESPN had Saxton projected as a second-round pick. That’s shaky ground in the WNBA, and Saxton said in her statement on returning that she wants to improve her opportunity. It’s not clear Saxton can improve her stock much – she played some of her best basketball this tournament – but that could be part of her rationale: the WNBA is a long shot so she may as well enjoy another year of college. 

Kierra Fletcher

Monday’s birdie was revealed when Georgia Tech transfer Fletcher announced she would play her super senior season at South Carolina. Fletcher was a four-year starter at Georgia Tech who missed all of last season with a foot injury. South Carolina was in the market for a veteran point guard to pair with Raven Johnson, who missed almost all of her freshman season with a knee injury, and Fletcher is a good fit. 

Fletcher was a four-year starter who averaged 9.6 points and 2.9 assists. She is a good rebounder for 5-9, averaging 5.7 rebounds. In 2020-21, her senior season, Fletcher averaged 13.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 5.5 rebounds and helped Georgia Tech to the Sweet 16, where they lost to South Carolina. Fletcher had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals in that game. She has not been much of a three-point shooter. Fletcher attempted five threes her first two seasons and was just 2-20 for her career heading into her senior season. She hit a respectable 23-64 (35.9%) that season.

I had a whole story planned for today about the criteria the Gamecocks would look for in the transfer portal and how important defense would be. That story is dead now that Fletcher has signed, but the point is still valid. There are some bigger names out there, but Fletcher had to play well on defense to play under Nell Fortner. Fortner mentored Staley as an Olympic coach and the two remain close, so Staley probably consulted with Fortner before bringing in Fletcher.

WBB: Five-year scholarship breakdown

Anyone else?

If they hadn’t already, Elysa Wesolek and Destiny Littleton have effectively had their decisions made for them at this point. South Carolina is at the 15 scholarship limit. Wesolek penned a goodbye post on Instagram, finishing with stay tuned. She could transfer and play a super senior season somewhere else.

Littleton has not said anything about her plans. She could transfer and play a season somewhere else. It would be her sixth season of college basketball, including her transfer year, which would be a lot.

Several times in Minneapolis, Dawn Staley teased that the Gamecocks could lose someone to the portal, probably a guard. If someone transfers it would open up another roster spot. Wesolek or Littleton could potentially stay if that happens, or South Carolina could keep it open. There are some big-time players still out there, and although South Carolina isn’t necessarily looking to add someone there are a few players the Gamecocks wouldn’t want to turn away.

There’s also the matter of the frontcourt.

Rotation

Saxton’s return means a crowded frontcourt becomes even more crowded. There already weren’t enough minutes behind Saxton, Aliyah Boston, Laeticia Amihere, and Kamilla Cardoso to include talented freshman Sania Feagin, and next year another talented freshman to the mix in Ashlyn Watkins. It’s certainly possible that someone decides to transfer to a place she’ll be able to play more.

Worth noting: Cardoso would have to sit out a year if she transferred because she already used her one-time immediate eligibility. 

The backcourt is a little clearer. Brea Beal will be back at the wing, with Bree Hall likely taking over the LeLe Grissett role as her backup. Zia Cooke and Johnson have the guard spots, with Saniya Rivers and Fletcher their backups. 

That’s assuming there aren’t any more transfers.

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