South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Can Joyce Edwards End the Gamecocks’ 20-Point Scoring Drought?

South Carolina has consistently produced outstanding individual scorers throughout Dawn Staley’s tenure, but it has been almost a decade since a Gamecock averaged at least 20 points per game over an entire season.

The last player to reach that milestone was A’ja Wilson. The Columbia native, whose statue now stands outside Colonial Life Arena, averaged an impressive 22.6 points per game during the 2017-18 season.

Wilson ended a 16-season stretch without a South Carolina player reaching that scoring average. Now, as the Gamecocks prepare for another season, a new name is emerging as a possible candidate to reach that mark: junior forward Joyce Edwards.

Edwards has already established herself as one of the most important players in Staley’s program. After two productive seasons, the question is no longer simply whether she can become a 20-point scorer. It is whether she can make that jump while playing within South Carolina’s team-first system.

Can Joyce Edwards Average 20 Points Per Game?

Edwards made an immediate impression after arriving in Columbia. During her freshman season, she led South Carolina in scoring despite coming off the bench for much of the campaign.

She averaged 12.7 points per game, earning All-SEC First Team recognition and an All-America honorable mention. Her performance demonstrated that she could produce against high-level competition, even without being a regular starter.

Her second season brought another significant step forward. Edwards moved into the starting lineup during the 2025-26 campaign and once again finished as South Carolina’s leading scorer.

She increased her scoring average to 19.2 points per game, putting her within reach of the 20-point milestone. Her offensive workload also grew considerably, with her field-goal attempts increasing from 9.4 to 13.5 per game. More importantly, her shooting efficiency improved from 52.9% to 57.1% from the field.

That combination of increased responsibility and improved efficiency makes her scoring progression particularly impressive.

“Joyce is a different beast,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said in a preseason interview.

Edwards also accomplished something significant last season, becoming just the third Gamecock in program history to earn All-SEC First Team and All-America honors in each of her first two seasons.

Across her first two years, she has averaged 16 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. Those numbers reflect a player who can contribute in several areas while continuing to develop as a scorer.

Staley believes Edwards’ approach to the game is what makes her special.

“I think Joyce is a basketball player,” Staley said. “She’s going to play the right way. Fortunately for us, she can score the ball. Bonafide scorer. She can put the ball in the basket.”

Do the Gamecocks Need Edwards to Score 20 Points Per Game?

Although Edwards reaching 20 points per game would be an impressive individual achievement, South Carolina’s history suggests it is not a requirement for championship success.

The Gamecocks have captured three national championships in the past decade, and none of those title-winning teams depended on a player averaging 20 or more points per game.

That is an important distinction. A high individual scoring average can demonstrate a player’s offensive dominance, but it does not automatically translate into a national championship.

South Carolina has traditionally succeeded through balanced scoring, defensive intensity, rebounding and contributions from multiple players. Staley understands that approach and is not placing unnecessary pressure on Edwards to reach a particular statistical target.

The Gamecocks also have several offensive options entering the 2026-27 season. With more players capable of creating their own opportunities, Edwards could face fewer defensive double-teams and find more favorable matchups.

Interestingly, Staley believes the additional offensive support could actually help Edwards score more rather than reduce her production.

“We’re just gonna let Joyce play,” Staley said. “We’re not gonna put any limits on how much she averages. … I do think she’ll have a lot more help than she had last year, as far as being able to put the ball on the floor. I mean, that could actually help her score more points because of how much of a threat everybody’s going to be when they’re on the floor, and it leaves one-on-one matchups that I like in those instances.”

That could become one of the biggest advantages for Edwards. If opposing defenses have to account for several scoring threats, she may have more opportunities to attack defenders individually.

Staley Wants Edwards to Become More Versatile

Reaching another level offensively is only part of Edwards’ development. Staley also wants to expand the junior’s responsibilities and make her a more versatile player.

Edwards had her first full summer with the Gamecocks this year, giving the coaching staff additional time to work on different areas of her game. According to Staley, considerable progress was made during the offseason.

One of the priorities is getting Edwards more involved on the perimeter. While she has demonstrated her ability to score around the basket, developing her outside skills and comfort handling the ball away from the paint could make her even more difficult to defend.

Staley also wants to experiment with bigger lineups that allow Edwards to use her perimeter abilities while creating matchup problems for opponents.

“We’ll make a way for her to play on the perimeter,” Staley said. “…She probably has done more perimeter stuff than she has post stuff. And we’re hoping we can get her to play a bigger lineup at times and get her on the perimeter and playing to that strength of hers. Also just making her more versatile, especially heading to her junior year, and she’s got one more year left. The more versatile she is, the better pro prospect she’ll be.”

The Verdict: Joyce Edwards Has a Real Opportunity

Edwards is entering her junior season with the experience, production and offensive ability to challenge South Carolina’s scoring record books.

Her improvement from 12.7 points per game as a freshman to 19.2 as a sophomore shows how quickly she has developed. With another year of experience and potentially more room to operate because of the talent surrounding her, averaging 20 points per game is a realistic possibility.

However, South Carolina does not need Edwards to average 20 points to compete for another national championship. Staley’s priority remains building a balanced team in which every player contributes to winning.

If Edwards reaches that milestone, it will be another remarkable achievement in an already impressive Gamecock career. If she does not, her overall impact could still make her one of the country’s most valuable players.

The biggest takeaway is that Edwards has the talent to become a dominant scorer, but Staley wants her development to extend beyond the points column. Becoming a more complete and versatile player could ultimately be even more important for both her professional future and South Carolina’s championship ambitions.

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