Last week, the focus was on celebrating the top 25 players from the past 25 years in South Carolina women’s basketball history. This week, the conversation shifted from rankings to rosters — who would make the ultimate starting five if you could pull from every era of Gamecock basketball?
The exercise wasn’t about just listing the five best players of all time. Instead, the goal was to construct a lineup that could realistically step onto the court, balance positions, and dominate a game. From point guard to post, the challenge was to blend skill, size, and chemistry.
The First Lineup: Power in the Paint, Shooters on the Perimeter
PG – Te-Hina Paopao
SG – Karen Middleton
W – Sheila Foster
F – A’ja Wilson
P – Aliyah Boston
The frontcourt was a no-brainer. Sheila Foster, A’ja Wilson, and Aliyah Boston are widely regarded as the three greatest players in program history — and the stats back it up.
- Foster ranks second all-time in both career scoring and rebounding.
- Wilson is South Carolina’s all-time scoring and shot-blocking leader.
- Boston holds the record for most rebounds and sits second in blocks.
“It’s going to be hard to score against those three, and even harder to get a rebound,” the writer explained.
The challenge came in the backcourt, where shooting was a priority. Karen Middleton, the program’s all-time leader in made threes with a career 45% clip, paired with Paopao, who once led the nation in three-point percentage (42%), gave the team exactly what it needed: spacing.
While smaller guards might sacrifice some defensive size, the idea was clear: funnel opponents into three elite rim protectors and light up the scoreboard with shooters on the other end. “We’re going to be scoring 100 points a game, so it’s okay to give up a basket or two,” the piece noted.
The Alternate Lineup: No Wilson, No Boston, No Foster
To keep things fresh, GamecockCentral’s new women’s basketball forum introduced an additional twist: pick a starting five without Wilson, Boston, or Foster.
The revised lineup:
PG – Tyasha Harris
SG – Shannon Johnson
W – Jocelyn Penn
F – Mikiah Herbert Harrigan
P – Kamilla Cardoso
Once again, the frontcourt anchored the team. Kamilla Cardoso, the star of South Carolina’s undefeated national championship team, was the obvious pick. Around her, Tyasha Harris, the program’s career assist leader, provided the perfect floor general.
Shannon Johnson, the program’s third-leading scorer, brought offensive firepower, while Jocelyn Penn added scoring punch and elite defense — she is the program’s all-time leader in steals.
The X-factor was Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, who not only ranked third in career blocks but also shot an impressive 39% from deep, creating spacing for Cardoso in the post. “That will make my team impossible to guard,” the piece concluded.
Subscriber Submissions: Fans Join the Debate
The conversation quickly spread among fans, who chimed in with their own all-time fives:
- CockyGirl’s Five: Shannon Johnson, Tiffany Mitchell, Allisha Gray, Joyce Edwards, Kamilla Cardoso.
“Going with my two hometown girls: Shannon Johnson of Hartsville (where I grew up) and Joyce Edwards of Camden (where I live now). She’s going to be the next superstar that everyone talks about.”
- Cockburn’s Five: Destanni Henderson, Martha Parker, Brantley Southers, Aleighsa Welch, Kamilla Cardoso.
“During my college years, I watched Parker play many times – great scorer and effort player despite not being the most athletic. … Southers scored over 1,900 career points, and her jersey should be hanging in the rafters.”
- WeCocky’s Five: Ty Harris, Allisha Gray, Joyce Edwards, Jocelyn Penn, Kamilla Cardoso.
“I would have loved to have seen what Penn would’ve accomplished playing on a Dawn Staley team.”
- Alndyoung’s Five: Destanni Henderson, Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Kamilla Cardoso, Alaina Coates.
- SlickChick22’s Five: Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Joyce Edwards, Denise Nanney, Kamilla Cardoso.
“Denise Nanney from the 1970s held most of the records that Staley’s players are breaking, and is my friend. She would fit right in with Dawn’s players.”
(Note: SlickChick22 admitted to sneaking in Wilson, Boston, and Foster as reserves — “Nice try,” the moderator joked.)
More Than Just a Thought Exercise
While no team like this will ever take the court, the debate reflects just how rich the Gamecock women’s basketball legacy has become. From the trailblazers of the 1970s like Nanney and Foster, to modern legends Wilson and Boston, to current stars like Cardoso and Paopao — South Carolina has built a program where all-time fives can be debated endlessly.
And for Dawn Staley’s squad, the future is just as bright. With rising stars like Joyce Edwards waiting to make their mark, the all-time roster will only get harder to choose in years to come.
