South Carolina used last week’s back-to-back matchups as a warm-up before heading to Las Vegas for the Players Era Championship. Here’s a breakdown of the standout performers, the biggest lingering questions, and one highlight moment that summed up the week.
Latson’s first few games as a Gamecock were up and down, but last week she was nothing short of sensational. She was perfect from the floor in the opening half of both matchups, moved the ball well, defended with energy, and—above all—showed off her elite scoring ability. Few players anywhere can fill up the basket the way she does when she’s locked in.
Following the win over Winthrop, Dawn Staley stirred up debate online when she said she believed Okot had the potential to be a top-five pick in the WNBA Draft. Critics pushed back, but as Shaquille O’Neal once famously said,
“I owe you an apology. I wasn’t really familiar with your game.”
Okot faced smaller frontline opposition, but she dominated precisely the way a high-level prospect should—controlling the paint, impacting both ends of the floor, and showing why Staley is so confident in her pro ceiling.
It would’ve been easy to highlight another lesser-recognized player, but it’s impossible to overlook consecutive 20-point outings and the continued evolution of Edwards’ game. She’s rapidly becoming one of the most dominant players in college basketball and a matchup problem for anyone.
Two Big Questions Moving Forward
1. Can South Carolina win both games in Las Vegas?
Scheduling Winthrop and Queens wasn’t random. Those matchups served as purposeful reps to implement lessons from the Southern Cal game and prepare for what was expected to be two top-10 opponents this week.
The answer will come Wednesday and Thursday: Did the lighter tune-ups keep the Gamecocks sharp or leave them under-tested? Duke fell out of the top-25, but the Blue Devils still pose real threat. And then…
2. Would South Carolina prefer to face UCLA or Texas?
Thursday’s outcomes will pair winners with winners and losers with losers. The Gamecocks naturally want to be in the winners’ bracket, but the real question is: who’s the better matchup?
A showdown with Texas wouldn’t count toward SEC standings but would provide valuable tape before their conference game in Columbia on January 15. South Carolina won three of four against the Longhorns last season, and while Dawn Staley seems to have Vic Schaefer figured out, facing Texas again isn’t exactly an easy draw.
UCLA brings a different challenge—especially with Lauren Betts anchoring the Bruins’ frontcourt. That battle would test Okot and the Gamecocks’ revamped inside presence. It would also serve as a revenge opportunity after UCLA out-Gamecocked South Carolina last year in Westwood. Do you accept the tougher test even if it raises the odds of taking an early-season loss?
One Standout Highlight
In one of the week’s best sequences, Latson soared for a steal, sprinted the floor with pace, pulled the defense toward her, and dished a perfectly timed pass to Joyce Edwards for an easy finish. While Latson’s scoring prowess gets most of the headlines—and deservedly so—her defensive instincts and playmaking make her even more valuable.
It was the definition of on-time delivery.
📦 “On-time delivery” 📺 @SECNetwork | https://t.co/0BdC2FgzrT — South Carolina Women’s Basketball (@GamecockWBB), November 20, 2025
