South Carolina women's basketball: Third look at next season

We took our first look at South Carolina’s 2025-26 season on April 7, and it was barely up for 24 hours before it was already out of date. The second edition was published last week, but with another huge commitment, it’s time for another look ahead.

If you want to look back at the first two projections, click HERE and 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 two players through the portal (Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot) and lost two (Walker and MiLaysia Fulwiley). That leaves the Gamecocks with 12 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)

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. The frontcourt is less clear. Starting Kitts and Edwards gives the Gamecocks an undersized but very fast lineup, while putting Okot in the post is a more traditional lineup. Either way, there is a big mismatch coming off the bench, something Dawn Staley loves. Right now I’m going with experience, but this will be settled in practice in October.

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Projected backup forwards
Ashlyn Watkins (Senior)
Madina Okot (Senior)
Adhel Tac (RS Sophomore)
Maryam Dauda (RS Senior)

Breakdown: The only question here is when Watkins will be available. Assuming Tac and Dauda improve from last season, and I think they will, South Carolina has enough depth here.

Projected backup guards
Maddy McDaniel (Sophomore)
Agot Makeer (Freshman)
Ayla McDowell (Freshman)

Breakdown: Losing Fulwiley may have cleared up the rotation, but it left the Gamecocks in need of another guard. I have been listing McDowell as a forward, but I moved her to guard this time because that’s where the Gamecocks need help. Makeer should be able to play the two or three also. They could still use another guard.

Transfer Portal Targets
And then there was one.

South Carolina has 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. 

Then the Gamecocks added Okot. The general consensus is that she was the best or second-best post in the portal, and she filled the Gamecocks’ biggest need.

That leaves one more known target. South Carolina was scheduled to host former Utah guard Gianna Kneepkens over Easter weekend. Kneepkens 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.

If South Carolina doesn’t get Kneepkens, Staley might look for a veteran guard for depth. She could always decide to roll with the freshmen. McDowell, in particular, has been a stud on the all-star circuit this spring.

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