COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has revealed her starting five for the Gamecocks’ first exhibition matchup of the 2025-26 season — and it’s a mix of experience, fresh talent, and high expectations.
The lineup features returning contributors Raven Johnson, Tessa Johnson, and Joyce Edwards, joined by two major transfer additions: Ta’Niya Latson from Florida State and Madina Okot from Mississippi State. The Gamecocks will open exhibition play Friday night, Oct. 24, against Anderson at Colonial Life Arena (7 p.m. ET).
Latson enters Columbia as one of the most explosive scorers in the country, having led the nation with 25.2 points per game last season and averaging over 21 points every year of her college career. Okot, at 6-foot-6, brings serious size to the paint — the tallest Gamecock since Kamilla Cardoso (6-7) left after the 2023-24 season. She averaged 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds last year, ranking fourth in the SEC in boards and shooting 64.9% from the field, good for fourth nationally.
Among the returners, Raven Johnson started every game last season, posting 4.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. Tessa Johnson proved to be a sharpshooter off the bench, averaging 8.4 points and leading the team with 43% from three-point range. Rising star Joyce Edwards, who paced South Carolina in scoring as a freshman, chipped in 12.7 points per game and will take on a bigger role this season.
Staley emphasized that her main focus for the exhibition is execution and chemistry.
“My expectation is to really play like you’ve been coached,” Staley said on Oct. 23. “Play like you’ve been practicing. … It takes a while to make that transition of having a little bit of people in the gym versus a lot of people in the gym, and you want to please them. I just want us to get on track to play the way we need to as a cohesive unit.”
As for her two freshmen — Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer — Staley is keeping things simple.
“I don’t want to put pressure on them; I think they put enough pressure on themselves,” she said. “They’re super talented, they’re confident, and they’ve been holding their own. Not very many instances where they look like freshmen.”
The Gamecocks will have one more exhibition tune-up on Oct. 30 against North Carolina in Atlanta before officially tipping off the new season.
