South Carolina women's basketball: Second look at next season
We published our first look at South Carolina’s 2025-26 season on April 7, and it was barely up for 24 hours before it was already out of date. With one huge addition and a huge loss, plus a couple of high-profile transfer targets still out there, this second edition may not last much longer than the first, but here we go.
If you want to look back at the first projection, click HERE.
Scholarships
South Carolina had four players who could declare for the WNBA Draft or return: Sakima Walker, Maryam Dauda, Raven Johnson, and Ashlyn Watkins.
None of the four declared for the draft, but Walker did enter the transfer portal. She got an unexpected year of eligibility because of the NCAA’s juco waiver and felt it was best to move on. Walker has not committed yet.
As of publication time, South Carolina has added one player through the portal (Ta’Niya Latson) and lost two (Walker and MiLaysia Fulwiley). That leaves the Gamecocks with 11 committed scholarships and four available scholarships, although Dawn Staley rarely uses all 15.
Projected starters
Point guard – Raven Johnson (RS Senior)
Shooting guard – Ta’Niya Latson (Senior)
Wing – Tessa Johnson (Junior)
Forward – Chloe Kitts (Senior)
Post – Joyce Edwards (Sophomore)
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Breakdown: You never want to lose a player with Fulwiley’s talent, but her departure makes it easier to figure out the starting lineup. Latson slides in at shooting guard, where she is no longer fighting for minutes with Fulwiley. A starting frontcourt of Kitts and Edwards is undersized, but they may be the fastest starting five in the country. If South Carolina lands one of the top posts in the portal, she might take over as the starting post.
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Projected backup forwards
Ashlyn Watkins (Senior)
Adhel Tac (RS Sophomore)
Maryam Dauda (RS Senior)
Ayla McDowell (Freshman)
Breakdown: Dawn Staley has openly declared that the Gamecocks are in the market for a big in the portal. Rumors are swirling that Staley has found one, but so far, nobody has committed. Watkins will probably miss at least the first half of the season, so they may be in the market for two, just based on numbers.
Projected backup guards
Maddy McDaniel (Sophomore)
Agot Makeer (Freshman)
Breakdown: Losing Fulwiley may have cleared up the rotation, but it left the Gamecocks in need of another guard. I listed McDowell as a forward, but she could probably pick up some minutes at the wing. Makeer should be able to play the two or three also. That still only gives South Carolina six players at the three positions.
Transfer Portal Targets
South Carolina already landed Latson. She was either the best or second-best player in the portal, depending on your personal preference between Latson and Olivia Miles.
South Carolina has been heavily linked to Mississippi State post Madina Okot, who has been ranked by some as the best post in the portal. Okot has yet to pull the trigger but would fill the need for a big post.
The Gamecocks are also scheduled to host former Utah guard Gianna Kneepkens, who averaged 19.3 points last season and was a few missed free throws shy of joining the 50/40/90 club. Adding Kneepkens would just be greedy, but the Gamecocks do need another guard.
