South Carolina wrapped up last week’s action at the Players Era Championship with a split result in Las Vegas. Here’s a breakdown of the week’s three most clutch performers, two pressing questions, and one standout highlight.
Three Clutch Players
Madina Okot
- vs. Duke: 31 minutes*, 23 points, 13 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists, 2 blocks
- vs. Texas: 34 minutes*, 12 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block
Okot was extraordinary in the Duke game and then followed it up by taking control inside against Texas’ highly regarded frontcourt before fouling out. She has become the dominant interior presence South Carolina lacked last year — and has brought even more to the table. Okot’s ability to handle the ball and read the floor makes her an unusually versatile force at her size.
Joyce Edwards
- vs. Duke: 32 minutes*, 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals
- vs. Texas: 31 minutes*, 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Dawn Staley pushed Edwards to elevate her entire game this season, and Edwards has answered that challenge with authority. She’s doing far more than scoring — she’s facilitating, defending, and delivering in critical moments.
Raven Johnson
- vs. Duke: 25 minutes*, 10 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds
- vs. Texas: 35 minutes*, 7 points, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
Johnson continues to embody the perfect point guard mindset. She’s scoring just enough to prevent defenses from sagging off her, but her main focus remains creating opportunities for teammates. Defensively, she’s been elite, including a lockdown effort on Madison Booker for three quarters.
Two Burning Questions
1. What’s going on with the bench?
Adhel Tac provided solid minutes, and Maddy McDaniel had flashes in limited action, but overall the bench output plummeted — modest against Duke, then nearly invisible against Texas.
Agot Makeer, who had logged at least 16 minutes in every game this season, played only three minutes versus the Longhorns. Ayla McDowell saw five minutes but went 0-for-3 with a single rebound.
South Carolina’s reserves are extremely young: two freshmen, two sophomores with minimal experience, and a senior in Maryam Dauda who hardly played last season. Some inconsistency is natural, but two points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks from the entire bench simply won’t cut it.
2. How well will the Gamecocks learn from this loss?
After the Texas defeat, Dawn Staley emphasized the teachable moments within the performance.
“I’m not upset at all at this game. This is going to help us because there are a lot of things to unpack in it.”
She reiterated the importance of those lessons multiple times. South Carolina now has a full week to rest and practice before heading to face Louisville — currently ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll.
The Cardinals have the tools to challenge the Gamecocks. If USC doesn’t absorb what Texas exposed, Louisville could very well hand them a second straight defeat.
One Favorite Play
Madina Okot delivered multiple highlights in Las Vegas that showcased her exceptional agility and ball skills. One standout moment featured the 6-foot-6 star catching the ball beyond the arc and slicing through defenders for a dribble-drive bucket — a move reminiscent of her time competing for Kenya’s 3×3 national team. Her all-around skill set continues to shine on the big stage.
