South Carolina’s women’s basketball newcomers officially have their jersey numbers, and the program announced the updates Tuesday on social media. The selections not only carry personal meaning for the players but also add to the program’s long history of iconic numbers.
Ta’Niya Latson will don 00, the same number she wore during her standout career at Florida State. Latson becomes just the third Gamecock to ever wear 00, joining Beth Hunt (1989–90) and Petra Ujhelyi (2000–03). While seven players have worn the single digit 0 in program history — including Olivia Thompson and Te-Hina Paopao in recent years — NCAA rules treat 0 and 00 as distinct numbers but prohibit both from being used by the same team. Unlike the NBA, college teams can’t feature both on the court at the same time.
Madina Okot will wear 11 after sporting 15 at Mississippi State and during her early days in Kenya. With 15 already taken by Adhel Tac, she switched to 11, a number rich with Gamecock tradition. She becomes the 11th player in program history to wear it, joining former standouts like Talaysia Cooper, Destiny Littleton, Lindsey Spann, and fan favorite La’Keisha Sutton. Okot also makes history as the first Kenyan ever to play for South Carolina, while joining Agot Makeer (Canada/South Sudan) as part of the team’s growing international presence. Together, they represent the 23rd and 24th international players in program history.
Ayla McDowell chose 24, a number with deep ties to the program. McDowell, who has worn several numbers throughout her career — 2, 23, and 24 in high school, 5 for Brazil, and both 2 and 24 in All-American events — follows in the footsteps of Kamilla Cardoso as just the second Gamecock to represent Brazil internationally. The number 24 has been one of the most popular in program history, with 14 previous players including Demetress Adams, Aleighsa Welch, and LeLe Grissett. Once McDowell suits up, 24 will tie with 12 as the most frequently worn number in South Carolina history.
Agot Makeer will wear 44, a departure from her traditional number 1, which is currently taken by Maddy McDaniel. When 1 wasn’t available in the past, Makeer opted for 11, but with Okot now claiming that spot, she doubled up to 44. The number has been worn by at least seven former Gamecocks, most recently Saniya Rivers in 2021–22, who also chose 44 after her preferred number wasn’t available.
These decisions come during the NCAA’s expanded jersey-number era, which began just three seasons ago. The rule change allowed numbers beyond the traditional 0–5 range. Last year, Joyce Edwards made history as the first Gamecock to embrace this freedom by choosing 8 — a number unavailable in high school or with USA Basketball due to older restrictions. Edwards originally wore 12, but with MiLaysia Fulwiley already holding that number and 13 retired for Martha Parker, she forged her own path with 8. Interestingly, with Fulwiley’s departure, 12 is now open again, though Edwards remains listed as 8 on the official roster despite wearing 12 for Team USA this summer.
South Carolina’s approach to number retirements has also evolved. Historically, certain numbers were removed from circulation entirely — including Parker’s 13, Shannon Johnson’s 14, and Sheila Foster’s 53. However, the program later shifted to retiring jerseys rather than numbers. That change allowed players like Raven Johnson to keep wearing Tiffany Mitchell’s 25, while A’ja Wilson’s 22 jersey is officially retired but effectively untouchable. Head coach Dawn Staley even acknowledged in February that Aliyah Boston’s 4 and Wilson’s 22 won’t return to circulation.
“It’s retired,” Staley confirmed, leaving no doubt about Wilson’s legacy.
With the new roster numbers set, the Gamecocks’ latest additions are ready to carve their place in the program’s storied history while honoring those who wore the digits before them.
