The South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program has flourished under the leadership of legendary head coach Dawn Staley.
Despite a dominant season that saw the Gamecocks take down Tennessee Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Duke, and Texas in the NCAA Tournament, they ultimately fell short in the national title game, losing to Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies.
Following the season’s end, several Gamecock players made decisions about their futures — and among the departures was veteran post player Sakima Walker.
On Saturday, Walker officially announced her transfer decision, committing to the California Golden Bears as a graduate transfer. She made the announcement via social media, sharing a series of photos proudly sporting a Cal uniform and posing alongside her new head coach, Charmin Smith.
“This one’s personal,” Walker captioned her post.
During the 2023-24 season with South Carolina, Walker saw limited minutes, averaging 1.4 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 0.3 assists per game. She played in 15 games, averaging 5.5 minutes per outing for a team that made a Final Four appearance.
Now, heading into the 2025-26 season, Walker will take the court for her fifth and final year of collegiate eligibility with Cal.
Walker began her college career at Rutgers, where she spent two seasons before transferring to South Carolina. Over her entire collegiate career, the 6-foot-5 center has averaged 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 0.2 assists per game.
As Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks reload for another title run, Walker is ready for a fresh start — and a new challenge — on the West Coast.
