COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Maryam Dauda has once again earned national recognition, landing on the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Preseason Top 20 Watchlist, as announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in collaboration with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). This marks Dauda’s second consecutive appearance on the prestigious list.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Dauda brings rare versatility to the Gamecocks lineup — combining defensive length, offensive rebounding power, and deep shooting range. After transferring from Arkansas, where she delivered a standout sophomore campaign, Dauda quickly became a key contributor for Dawn Staley’s squad in her first season at South Carolina.
She appeared in 34 games last year, showing steady growth as the season progressed. During the NCAA Tournament, Dauda shot an impressive 50% from both the field and beyond the arc, while grabbing over half of her rebounds on the offensive glass — a testament to her hustle and inside presence.
Before arriving in Columbia, Dauda turned heads at Arkansas during the 2023–24 season, averaging 10.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game — ranking 21st nationally in blocks and leading the SEC with 2.8 per conference game. She also shot 45.5% from the floor and 31.9% from three, earning praise from Coach Staley for her strong two-way play and leadership potential.
Fans will once again have the chance to make their voices heard through Fan Voting, which opens Friday, Oct. 31, and runs across three rounds. The Top 20 list will be trimmed to 10 players in late January, five in late February, and the finalist and winner will be selected in March by Cheryl Miller and the Hall of Fame selection committee.
The Cheryl Miller Award is part of the Hall of Fame’s “Starting Five” honors, which also include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and Lisa Leslie Award (Center).
Up next, the No. 2-ranked Gamecocks will play their second exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 30, against No. 11 North Carolina at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster, while the home opener is set for Monday, Nov. 3, against Grand Canyon at Colonial Life Arena, with the 7 p.m. game streaming live on SECN+.
Stay connected for updates at GamecocksOnline.com and follow @GamecockWBB on social media for exclusive team news and highlights.
2025–26 Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Preseason Watchlist (Top 20):
- Madison Booker (Texas)
- Maryam Dauda (South Carolina)
- Jadyn Donovan (Duke)
- Caroline Ducharme (UConn)
- Bella Fontleroy (Baylor)
- Yarden Garzon (Maryland)
- Nyla Harris (North Carolina)
- Stailee Heard (Oklahoma State)
- Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA)
- Skylar Jones (Louisville)
- Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
- Jordan Obi (Kentucky)
- Olivia Olson (Michigan)
- Tierra Simon (Richmond)
- Grace Slaughter (Missouri)
- Adrianna Smith (Maine)
- Zee Spearman (Tennessee)
- Grace VanSlooten (Michigan State)
- Mikayla Williams (LSU)
- Sahara Williams (Oklahoma)
