Okot impresses in Atlanta’s stunning comeback win, Johnson settles in quickly for Indiana, and Latson gets her first taste of the league in Los Angeles
The 2026 WNBA season is officially underway, and for South Carolina fans, opening weekend carried extra significance. Three Gamecocks drafted this spring made their professional debuts across three different franchises — and while the sample sizes are small, each showing offered its own set of early takeaways about what these players might become at the next level.
Here’s a full breakdown of how each rookie performed, plus a look at the broader Gamecock universe that had quite a weekend of its own.
Raven Johnson — Indiana Fever
Stats vs. Dallas Wings (107-104 L): 12 MIN | 4 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST | 1 STL
The highest of South Carolina’s three draft picks wasted no time making herself known. Raven Johnson came off the bench early in Indiana’s season-opening loss to Dallas, and immediately demonstrated the qualities that made her one of the more anticipated rookies of this class — composure, competitiveness, and a feel for the moment.
Within minutes of checking in, Johnson drew a foul and calmly converted both free throws, an early signal of her mental steadiness. She added her first career basket later in the game and won her first WNBA jump ball — a small detail that speaks to the physical readiness she brings to the professional game from day one.
Perhaps the most telling subplot of Johnson’s debut was the rotation dynamic it created. She effectively supplanted fellow former Gamecock Tyasha Harris in Indiana’s rotation for the night, with Harris logging only four minutes and missing her lone shot attempt. It’s a delicate situation — two players from the same program competing for minutes on the same team — and one that head coach Stephanie White will navigate carefully as the season develops. For now, the rookie made the most of her opportunity.
Four points and two assists in 12 minutes won’t make headlines, but the foundation of Johnson’s game — her defensive instincts, her ability to read plays, and her willingness to compete — was on display from the opening whistle. That’s exactly what you want to see from a rookie in a losing effort on the road.
Madina Okot — Atlanta Dream
Stats vs. Minnesota Lynx (91-90 W): 10 MIN | 8 PTS | 4 REB | 1 STL
If one rookie stood out above the rest this weekend, it was Madina Okot — and she did it in the most meaningful of contexts: a historic comeback win.
The Atlanta Dream’s early substitution, Okot received the ball on the post almost immediately after checking in and got her “Welcome to the WNBA” moment right away when her layup attempt was rejected. A lesser player might have retreated into a shell. Okot did the opposite. Just moments later, she caught the ball in an identical post position, pump-faked her defender into the air, and laid it in cleanly. In the span of about 90 seconds, she had already shown the self-awareness and skill refinement that separates polished prospects from raw ones.
She finished with eight points and four rebounds in ten minutes — one of the more productive rookie stat lines from an opening weekend across the entire league. But the efficiency and shot-making acumen she demonstrated matters far more than the raw numbers. Okot didn’t just survive her first WNBA minutes; she contributed to one of the most stunning comebacks of the young season, as Atlanta erased a 19-point deficit to beat Minnesota 91-90 in a game that came down to the final seconds.
Playing center for a Dream team clearly built around depth and versatility, Okot’s frontcourt contributions were genuine and timely. For a program like Atlanta, which has invested heavily in its roster construction this offseason, having a rookie prove immediately useful changes the rotation picture in meaningful ways.
Ta’Niya Latson — Los Angeles Sparks
Stats vs. Las Vegas Aces (105-78 L): 5 MIN | 2 PTS | 1 REB
Ta’Niya Latson’s debut came Sunday night under far less favorable circumstances — a blowout loss in Las Vegas that had long since been decided when she got her extended run. Her first appearance came briefly in the second quarter, and she logged the final three minutes of a game already out of hand, primarily operating as a point guard.
The highlight was still meaningful, even in the context of a lopsided scoreline: Latson blew past Chennedy Carter — a veteran guard and one of the more defensively challenging players in the league — for her first career basket. That kind of burst and decisiveness off the dribble against experienced competition is exactly the trait that made Latson such an intriguing draft prospect.
Five minutes in a blowout is the smallest of sample sizes, and it would be unfair to draw any sweeping conclusions. Latson was drafted for what she can become — a dynamic, scoring guard with elite athleticism and the foundational skills to be a real offensive weapon at the professional level. Sunday’s two points are the first entry in what figures to be a long, compelling story.
The Broader Gamecock Universe Had a Weekend to Remember
While the rookies were writing their opening chapters, the established Gamecocks around the league were putting on a show of their own.
Zia Cooke had perhaps the single best individual performance of any former Gamecock this weekend, turning in a career game for Seattle despite the Storm’s blowout loss in their opener. She posted 15 points and seven rebounds — both career-highs — and finished second on the team in both categories. That kind of production in a loss is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. Cooke has spent her early career quietly developing, and this feels like a player ready to take a real step forward.
A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces had a historically rough night at home, getting routed by Phoenix — the team they swept in last season’s Finals. Before the game, the Aces received their championship rings, which featured an innovative ring-on-a-ring design where each championship ring contains a smaller, wearable inner ring — a concept with a familiar feel for Gamecock fans. South Carolina’s 2024 title rings featured a similar customizable design, with a top that unscrewed and could be worn as a necklace. Despite the personal accolade of ring night, Wilson’s defense of the title begins with a humbling loss.
Kamilla Cardoso, Aliyah Boston, and Allisha Gray each cracked 20 points on Saturday in separate games. Cardoso was dominant in Chicago’s road win at Portland, posting 22 points and 14 rebounds in just 25 minutes — a double-double that established her immediately as one of the league’s most physically dominant interior players. Boston delivered 23 points, four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in a complete showing. Gray’s 24-point, eight-rebound performance was arguably the most dramatic, as she capped her night by making the game-clinching block that sealed Atlanta’s comeback win over Minnesota.
Te-Hina Paopao has waited patiently for her moment in the clutch — and Saturday, it finally came. Her game-winning basket with 11 seconds left, described by observers as a perfectly executed pull-up jumper, gave Atlanta its first lead of the game against Minnesota and proved that Paopao is ready to be trusted when it matters most. Her six points, five rebounds, and four assists were understated in the final box score, but the impact was undeniable.
Laeticia Amihere capped the opening weekend for former Gamecocks with a quietly impressive Sunday night showing — 13 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and a career-high five assists. The Golden State Valkyries may have kept her over Kate Martin in a decision that sparked controversy this week, but Amihere spent Sunday reminding everyone exactly why.
The Bigger Picture
It’s one weekend, and projections from opening night have a way of being revised by the time mid-June rolls around. But for the South Carolina pipeline, the early returns are encouraging. Okot looks ready to contribute now. Johnson showed the temperament of a player who won’t be rattled by the moment. Latson simply needs time and opportunity.
And beyond the rookies, the full Gamecock presence across the WNBA is as deep and impactful as it has ever been — a testament to what Dawn Staley has built in Columbia and what it continues to produce at the highest level of the sport.
The full weekly recap returns next Monday. For now, the scoreboard reads: South Carolina’s class of 2026 — early promise delivered.
