The South Carolina women’s basketball team is reloading with a mix of talented transfers and promising freshmen — and Coach Dawn Staley believes this new roster has what it takes to keep the Gamecocks among the nation’s elite.
After losing MiLaysia Fulwiley and Sakima Walker to the transfer portal, and graduating stars Te-Hina Paopao, Sania Feagin, and Bree Hall to the WNBA, Staley restocked her roster with two impact transfers — Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot — plus freshmen Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell.
At SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 14, Staley was joined by Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards, and Latson, offering fans a first look at the 2025–26 Gamecocks and their new chemistry.
“I feel like we’re a little more scrappy,” Johnson said. “I’ve been blessed with two great teams, but it’s just different this year. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it feels good out there.”
South Carolina enters the new season chasing its sixth straight Final Four and third consecutive national championship appearance. Under Staley, the Gamecocks have recorded eight 30-win seasons, including the legendary 38-0 national title run two years ago.
Madina Okot’s Game-Changing Potential
Standing at 6-foot-6, transfer center Madina Okot (from Mississippi State) has already turned heads in practice — and Staley didn’t hesitate to praise her potential.
“The person that I think could take our team to the next level, other than Joyce and Ta’Niya, is Madina Okot,” Staley said during an SEC Network interview. “She is by far, probably the strongest player that we’ve had in our program.”
With starting forward Chloe Kitts sidelined for the season after tearing her ACL, Okot’s presence in the paint becomes even more vital. Staley highlighted both her strength and her surprising versatility.
“Her ability to be mobile — she’s got great hands,” Staley continued. “She’s really efficient in the paint, and she can actually shoot it too. We’ve got to keep egging her on to take those mid-range shots. She actually closed practice down by knocking down three.”
Why Ta’Niya Latson Chose South Carolina
When Ta’Niya Latson, last season’s nation-leading scorer (25.2 points per game), entered the transfer portal, her close friend and high school teammate Raven Johnson — now South Carolina’s starting point guard — immediately began recruiting her to Columbia.
But Latson said her decision went beyond friendship.
“Just the history of the program,” Latson explained. “Playing under Coach Staley is one of the best experiences that a player could have. So just learning, looking to grow, and be the best player that I can be.”
Staley has already begun pushing Latson to expand her game beyond scoring.
“She’s challenging me on both ends of the floor,” Latson said. “Both defensively and offensively, just seeing things that I normally didn’t see at Florida State. I just want to continue to grow and be the best player I can be going into the draft.”
Staley praised Florida State head coach Brooke Wyckoff for preparing Latson well but noted that the Gamecocks are focusing on the next phase of her development.
“We’re challenging her to get mentally tougher and to work on some things she probably wouldn’t necessarily work on at Florida State,” Staley said. “The scoring load was very heavy, and when it’s heavy, you tend not to develop those other qualities that you need to take into the next level.”
Latson also credited Tessa Johnson for helping her adjust and elevate her playmaking.
“She plays at a high level on both ends of the floor,” Latson said. “Just playing with Tessa challenges me — being able to see options I never got to see at Florida State. I know she’s going to knock down those shots.”
With new leaders emerging, rising stars developing, and Dawn Staley’s championship vision steering the way, South Carolina’s retooled roster looks ready to write another chapter in its dynastic run — one defined by grit, growth, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.
