South Carolina Women’s Basketball Roster Faces Changes Ahead of 2025-26 Season

Columbia, SC – The South Carolina women’s basketball team is nearing completion of its roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season, but faces significant challenges stemming from player departures and a changing landscape in recruiting. As coach Dawn Staley prepares for the season, the team has lost five key players, including those heading to the transfer portal and the WNBA.

In an effort to replenish talent, the Gamecocks have secured four new recruits to enhance their squad for the upcoming year. However, looking beyond the next season, South Carolina is already expected to lose additional talent in the 2026-27 season, with players Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, Maryam Dauda, Ashlyn Watkins, and Madina Okot all set to exhaust their eligibility. The future of some players remains uncertain; notably, Ashlyn Watkins may be in consideration for a medical redshirt, which could provide her an additional year of eligibility.

Despite these challenges, Staley will maintain a core group of players, potentially including Ayla McDowell, Agot Makeer, Tessa Johnson, Adhel Tac, Maddy McDaniel, and Joyce Edwards, contingent on any further transfers. To address the shifting dynamics, Coach Staley is actively engaged in recruiting new talent. She recently attended an AAU event in Pennsylvania, reflecting her commitment to identifying high school players who could elevate the Gamecocks’ future performance.

Despite the energetic pursuit of talent, the Gamecocks are currently not represented in ESPN’s top 60 rankings for the class of 2026. Nevertheless, South Carolina has set its sights on Oliviyah Edwards, a highly regarded 6-foot-3 five-star forward from Tacoma, Washington, who ranks No. 4 in ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings. Following an impressive performance where she scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds at an AAU game in Rock Hill, SC, Edwards remains a priority for Staley’s team as they look to fill crucial roster positions.

Other talent on the radar includes Jordyn Jackson, a 6-1 guard from Washington, DC, who is ranked No. 8 and has named South Carolina among her final six schools. Point guard Kate Harpring from Atlanta, Georgia, a five-star prospect ranked No. 2, has also received an offer from South Carolina. Additionally, McKenna Woliczko, another highly touted player at No. 6, posted positively about her unofficial visit to South Carolina during the Final Four. Brooklyn Hall, a 6-foot prospect and younger sister of former Gamecock Bree Hall, is also being closely monitored after averaging 18.1 points at her academy.

As the Gamecocks prepare for roster changes, another significant event is on the horizon. A statue honoring Dawn Staley is set to be unveiled on April 30 at 4 p.m. at the intersection of Senate St. and Lincoln St. in Columbia. This statue symbolizes Staley’s impressive accomplishments as both a player and coach and highlights her commitment to leadership and community empowerment. Her legacy includes seven Final Four appearances and seven seasons with 30 or more wins. Furthermore, Staley was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

As Staley looks to secure her fourth national championship in the upcoming season, achieving this milestone would place her among the top three coaches in women’s college basketball history. Meanwhile, in a related development, former South Carolina player Tiffany Davis has been named the new varsity girls’ basketball coach at Abington Friends School in Pennsylvania. Davis was part of Staley’s first national championship team in 2017 and navigated through injuries during her college career, bringing valuable experience to her new role.