South Carolina Women’s Basketball Hosts Top 2026 Recruits Emily McDonald and Kaeli Wynn
South Carolina women’s basketball is continuing its aggressive push on the recruiting trail, welcoming two highly regarded class of 2026 prospects to Columbia this weekend. It marks the first in what is expected to be a busy stretch of official visits for Dawn Staley’s program.
Emily McDonald, a 6-foot guard out of New York, and Kaeli Wynn, a 6-foot-2 forward from Los Angeles, are both in town for official visits, giving the Gamecocks a chance to further their case with two rising stars in the 2026 class.
Kaeli Wynn: Versatile Forward with Basketball Pedigree
Wynn enters the weekend as one of the most versatile frontcourt prospects in the country. She is ranked 22nd by Rivals, 15th by ESPN, and 38th by 247Sports, and plays her high school ball at powerhouse Mater Dei in California.
Her background is steeped in basketball tradition. Wynn’s mother played at Southern Cal, sharing the court with Lisa Leslie, before transitioning into a successful coaching career at Long Beach State and Washington, and now leads the program at Mater Dei. Her sister Jada has competed at Colorado and Texas Tech and is set to suit up for UC-Irvine this season, where their father Derek is currently an assistant coach.
Though Wynn suffered a dislocated knee in January that sidelined her for the remainder of the season and summer, her reputation as a “do-it-all player” remains strong. She can operate across multiple positions and is praised for her elite basketball IQ, decision-making, and versatility — qualities that come naturally from being raised by two coaches.
Wynn has already taken unofficial visits to Stanford, Texas Tech, and Michigan State, and she also has an official visit planned to Stanford.
Emily McDonald: A Rapidly Rising Guard
While Wynn comes with a family legacy, Emily McDonald has quickly become one of the hottest names in the 2026 class. Ranked 49th by Rivals, 39th by ESPN, and 34th by 247Sports, McDonald elevated her stock with a breakout summer.
Her biggest moment came at the Power 24 Finals in Ohio, where she led Team Northeast to a runner-up finish, catching the attention of South Carolina’s staff. Shortly after, Staley and her assistants extended a scholarship offer.
McDonald currently plays at Long Island Lutheran, one of the top programs in the country, after beginning her high school career at St. Mary’s, a school with less national exposure. Scouts describe her as a combo guard with strong point guard abilities, though most project her as a shooting guard at the college level. ESPN has praised her blend of playmaking and shooting ability, as well as her vocal leadership and competitiveness.
The guard has been busy on the recruiting trail, taking unofficial visits to Baylor, Kentucky, TCU, North Carolina, Indiana, and Wake Forest. She took her first official visit to North Carolina last weekend before heading to Columbia.
South Carolina’s 2026 Recruiting Push
Neither Wynn nor McDonald has released a list of finalists, but their visits represent another opportunity for South Carolina to remain in the mix for the nation’s best.
The Gamecocks have already hosted two other 2026 prospects: Saniyah Hall, who visited in May before committing to Southern Cal in July, and McKenna Woliczko, who visited in late June and is expected to announce her decision soon.
Looking ahead, South Carolina has additional official visits lined up with Oliviyah Edwards (September 19-21) and Sitaya Fagan (late September). Elite post Olivia Vukosa and standout guard Aaliah Spaight are also expected to visit, though dates have not yet been confirmed.
With the recruiting calendar heating up, Dawn Staley and her staff are once again putting South Carolina at the center of conversations around the country’s most elite prospects.
