Two South Carolina Gamecocks have earned recognition among the nation’s elite defenders, as sophomore forward Joyce Edwards and senior guard Raven Johnson were named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, according to GamecocksOnline.com.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced the 25-player list, with South Carolina joining only two other programs with multiple selections. The SEC’s defensive dominance was evident, as 12 of the 25 honorees play in the conference.
Edwards: Versatile Defensive Force
Edwards is experiencing a breakout season, ranking among South Carolina’s top two players in nearly every statistical category while placing in the nation’s top 20 in key offensive measures. Her defensive impact, however, has been equally impressive.
The versatile post player ranks ninth in the SEC with 1.4 blocks per game, including 1.3 blocks per conference contest. Edwards’ defensive versatility extends beyond rim protection—she’s 11th in the league in steals per game at 2.1 for the season, ramping up to 2.3 per game against ranked opponents and 1.9 per SEC matchup.
On the boards, Edwards averages 6.2 rebounds per game, with 3.4 coming on the defensive end. Her 6.9 rebounds per SEC game rank 15th in the conference, according to GamecocksOnline.com.
Johnson: The Guard Nightmare
Johnson has built a reputation as the nemesis of opposing guards, applying relentless defensive pressure whether shadowing primary ball-handlers or neutralizing top scorers. Her defensive tenacity has been instrumental in South Carolina ranking 26th nationally in scoring defense and third in field goal percentage defense.
The senior guard averages 1.5 steals per game, but the real story lies in what happens next—70.6 percent of those steals immediately lead to points. That conversion rate skyrockets to 85.7 percent against ranked opponents, and remarkably, 100 percent of her steals in SEC play have led directly to points, per GamecocksOnline.com.
Elite Company
The watch list features an impressive collection of talent from across the country, including UConn’s dual threats KK Arnold and Sarah Strong, UCLA’s dominant center Lauren Betts, Notre Dame’s dynamic guard Hannah Hidalgo, and SEC rivals like Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes and LSU’s MiLaysia Fulwiley.
Edwards and Johnson’s inclusion highlights not only their individual excellence but also South Carolina’s continued emphasis on defensive intensity under coach Dawn Staley.
Road Ahead
The No. 3/3 Gamecocks face a challenging two-game road stretch as they look to maintain their defensive dominance. South Carolina visits Auburn on Thursday, January 29, at 9 p.m. ET on SEC Network, followed by a trip to Texas A&M on Monday, February 2, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Both contests will test Edwards’ and Johnson’s defensive prowess against quality SEC competition as South Carolina continues pursuing conference and national championship aspirations.
Source: GamecocksOnline.com
