Former South Carolina Star Laeticia Amihere Becomes WNBA Champion With Golden State Valkyries
Another former South Carolina Gamecock has reached the top of professional women’s basketball.
Former Gamecocks forward Laeticia Amihere is officially a WNBA champion after helping the Golden State Valkyries capture the 2026 championship with a decisive Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday.
Golden State secured the title with a 68-63 win, closing out the series and making history in the process. The championship represents a remarkable achievement for a franchise that has only been in existence for two seasons.
For Amihere, the victory adds another major accomplishment to an already impressive basketball journey. Her championship success also creates an interesting connection to her former South Carolina teammates, several of whom were competing on the opposite side of the Finals.
Golden State Valkyries Make WNBA History
The Valkyries have accomplished something no WNBA expansion franchise had achieved so quickly.
By winning the championship in just their second season, Golden State established a new league record for the fastest an expansion team has captured a WNBA title.
The franchise also became part of another historic moment by winning the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
Amihere played a supporting role throughout the season, providing valuable minutes off the bench. Before Saturday’s championship-clinching game, she was averaging 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per contest.
Although she did not appear in Game 7, she made an important contribution during the previous game in Atlanta.
In Game 6, Amihere received her largest playoff workload of the postseason, playing 20 minutes. She recorded a season-best 10 rebounds and finished with an impressive plus-minus rating of +14, despite Golden State losing the contest.
Her performance demonstrated her ability to provide energy, rebounding and defensive contributions when called upon.
Amihere Defeats Former Gamecock Teammates for the Championship
The championship victory carried an additional storyline because several former South Carolina players were representing Atlanta.
Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao and Madina Okot were all members of the Dream roster that ultimately fell one victory short of winning the franchise’s first WNBA championship.
That meant one former Gamecock was guaranteed to celebrate a championship, while three others had to settle for a heartbreaking Finals defeat.
Despite the different outcomes, the presence of four former South Carolina players in the championship series highlights the continued influence of Dawn Staley’s program on professional women’s basketball.
Looking Back at Laeticia Amihere’s South Carolina Career
Before establishing herself in the WNBA, Amihere built an impressive résumé in Columbia.
During her South Carolina career, the forward averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 127 appearances, including four starts.
Although she was not always a regular starter, Amihere played an important role on several successful Gamecock teams.
She was part of three SEC regular-season championship squads, three SEC Tournament championship teams and three South Carolina teams that reached the Final Four.
Her biggest collegiate achievement came in 2022 when she helped Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks win the national championship.
Amihere also made history internationally. In 2020, she became the first South Carolina women’s basketball player to compete in the Olympic Games while still playing college basketball, representing Canada.
Her nickname, “LA,” became familiar to Gamecock supporters throughout her time in Columbia.
From Atlanta to Golden State: Amihere’s WNBA Journey
Amihere’s professional career began when the Atlanta Dream selected her with the eighth overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft.
She spent her first two professional seasons in Atlanta before eventually being waived. Golden State subsequently gave her another opportunity, and she became part of the Valkyries’ championship-winning roster.
Her journey demonstrates how professional careers can develop through perseverance, new opportunities and the willingness to embrace different roles.
While her statistics may not have placed her among the team’s leading scorers, her rebounding and contributions off the bench helped provide depth throughout the season.
Amihere Joins an Exclusive Group of Former Gamecock Champions
With Golden State’s victory, Amihere becomes the third former South Carolina women’s basketball player to win a WNBA championship.
She joins two other former Gamecocks who have already reached the same milestone:
- A’ja Wilson: Won championships with the Las Vegas Aces in 2022, 2023 and 2025.
- Alaina Coates: Captured a WNBA championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2023.
- Laeticia Amihere: Won the 2026 championship with the Golden State Valkyries.
The accomplishment is another source of pride for South Carolina’s basketball program and its supporters.
Another Championship Success Story for Dawn Staley’s Program
Amihere’s championship is more than an individual achievement. It adds to the growing list of former Gamecocks who have translated their college success into accomplishments at the professional level.
Her journey from a national champion at South Carolina to a WNBA champion with Golden State reflects the opportunities and development that can come from playing under Staley.
Four former South Carolina players competed in the 2026 WNBA Finals, and Amihere emerged as a champion.
For Gamecock supporters, it is another reminder that the program’s influence extends well beyond Columbia. Whether winning national championships in college or competing for professional titles, former South Carolina players continue to make their mark on women’s basketball.
About The Author
