Gamecocks Shine in SEC Postseason Awards: Edwards, Fulwiley Lead South Carolina’s Honors
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The SEC Champion South Carolina Gamecocks continued to add to their accolades as five standout players were recognized by the league’s coaches with postseason honors. Headlining the awards were Joyce Edwards, who earned First-Team All-SEC honors, and MiLaysia Fulwiley, named SEC Sixth Woman of the Year.
Joining them, Te-Hina Paopao secured a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, while Sania Feagin and Raven Johnson were named to the All-Defensive Team. Edwards also made the All-Freshman Team, marking a spectacular debut season for the young star.
Edwards Joins Gamecock Legends
Joyce Edwards becomes just the third freshman in South Carolina history to be named First-Team All-SEC, joining legends A’ja Wilson (2015) and Aliyah Boston (2020). The Camden, S.C., native has been the Gamecocks’ leading scorer, averaging 13.0 points per game overall, 14.4 ppg in SEC play, and 11.8 ppg against ranked opponents. Her .558 field goal percentage ranks fourth in the SEC and 29th nationally, with an even stronger 57.2% shooting in conference play, second-best in the SEC.
A four-time SEC Freshman of the Week, Edwards has been South Carolina’s top scorer in 13 games, including seven against ranked opponents. She has recorded three double-doubles, including a standout performance against #15 Iowa State and two in SEC action.
Fulwiley Claims Sixth Woman of the Year
MiLaysia Fulwiley joins Alaina Coates (2014) and Kamilla Cardoso (2023) as the third Gamecock to win SEC Sixth Woman of the Year. The explosive sophomore has thrived in SEC play, boosting her season scoring average to 11.9 points per game, including 13.4 ppg in conference matchups on 41.5% shooting.
Despite averaging less than 20 minutes per game, Fulwiley’s 24.9 points per 40 minutes lead the team. She has delivered three 20-point performances, including 24 points at Vanderbilt and 20 against #9 TCU. Defensively, she ranks ninth in the SEC in steals (1.94 per game) and 10th in blocks (0.94 per game). Her defensive prowess was on full display with a career-high five steals vs. Florida and four in the fourth quarter against #15 Kentucky.
Paopao’s Leadership Earns Recognition
A steady veteran presence, Te-Hina Paopao earned All-SEC Second Team honors for her playmaking and leadership. Averaging 10.2 points per game, she has been particularly effective against ranked opponents, averaging 11.5 ppg while shooting 49.6% overall and 40.0% from three-point range.
Paopao leads South Carolina with 3.0 assists per game and boasts the SEC’s second-best assist-to-turnover ratio (2.57), ranking 16th nationally. In conference play, her 3.44 assists per game rank 12th, while her 2.39 assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth in the league.
Defensive Anchors: Feagin and Johnson Stand Tall
Sania Feagin has been a defensive force all season, ranking sixth in the SEC in blocks (1.60 per game) and second in SEC play (2.06 per game). She has six games with three or more blocks, including a season-best six blocks in the win over Texas and five in a crucial road victory at Ole Miss.
Raven Johnson has continued to be the heartbeat of South Carolina’s elite defense, which ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense (.350) and second in the SEC in scoring defense (57.94 ppg in conference play). Johnson leads the team with 1.48 steals per game, delivering standout defensive performances in six games with three or more steals, including three SEC games with five or more takeaways.
SEC Tournament Up Next
With their No. 1 seed secured for the fourth straight season, #5 South Carolina heads to Greenville, S.C., for the SEC Tournament. The Gamecocks will open play in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7, at noon on ESPN.
Stay updated on Gamecocks women’s basketball by following @GamecockWBB on social media and visiting GamecocksOnline.com.
2025 SEC Awards & All-SEC Teams
Major SEC Awards
- Player of the Year: Madison Booker, Texas
- Coach of the Year: Vic Schaefer, Texas
- Defensive Player of the Year: Clara Strack, Kentucky
- Freshman of the Year: Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Newcomer of the Year: Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
- Sixth Woman of the Year: MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
- Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Grace Slaughter, Missouri
All-SEC First Team
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
- Madison Booker, Texas
- Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
- Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
- Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
- Aneesah Morrow, LSU
- Mikaylah Williams, LSU
All-SEC Second Team
- MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
- Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
- Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
- DeYona Gaston, Auburn
- Jerkaila Jordan, Mississippi State
- Madison Scott, Ole Miss
- Clara Strack, Kentucky
- Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
All-Freshman Team
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Yuting Deng, Auburn
- Jordan Lee, Texas
- Liv McGill, Florida
- Sira Thienou, Ole Miss
- Trinity Turner, Georgia
- Mia Woolfolk, Georgia
All-Defensive Team
- Sania Feagin, South Carolina
- Raven Johnson, South Carolina
- Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
- Rori Harmon, Texas
- Aneesah Morrow, LSU
- Clara Strack, Kentucky
The Gamecocks continue their dominance, stacking up awards as they head into the postseason! Can they capture yet another SEC Tournament Championship? Stay tuned!
