South Carolina women’s basketball welcomed two highly regarded international prospects — Sitaya Fagan and Joyce Isi Etute — to Columbia for official visits this weekend.
Fagan, a 6-foot-4 forward from Australia, has been one of the most sought-after international recruits in recent years. Along with South Carolina, she’s still weighing offers from Southern Cal and Texas as part of a cross-country recruiting tour. Earlier this week, she made stops at both schools before arriving in Columbia.
Etute, meanwhile, is a 6-foot forward from Luxembourg with Nigerian roots. She recently moved to the United States to play at IMG Academy in Florida, and this marks her first connection to the Gamecocks.
During their visit, the recruits got a full taste of the Gamecock experience. After a trip to the Soda City Market, Dawn Staley hosted a block party at her home — which also served as a birthday celebration for her dog, Champ Staley. The event featured an ice cream truck, face painting, and karaoke, creating a relaxed and family-like atmosphere.
Fagan has made history as the most heavily recruited Australian women’s basketball player ever, holding offers from 26 NCAA programs — the most ever received by an Australian prospect. She first gained attention at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Mexico, and this summer helped Australia claim a silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno, averaging 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds. Coach Dawn Staley attended the tournament to support current commits Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, as well as scout Fagan.
Etute’s international résumé is equally intriguing. She has excelled in three junior FIBA tournaments, averaging 16.3 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. Though those came against lower competition, she’s also gained experience at the senior level, representing Luxembourg in the 2025 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket Qualifiers, where she averaged 3.0 points and 4.8 rebounds across four games.
The visits from Fagan and Etute mark South Carolina’s seventh and eighth confirmed official visits of this recruiting cycle. Previous visitors include Saniyah Hall (Southern Cal commit), McKenna Woliczko (Iowa commit), Emily McDonald, Kaeli Wynn, Somto Okafor, and Kelsi Andrews, who is scheduled to announce her college decision on Tuesday, October 7.
