Gamecock signee Ayla McDowell never stops grinding. Why that grit is a fit with USC
Ayla McDowell didn’t take long to make herself known to Cypress Springs basketball coach Taneisha Rogers. McDowell wanted to hoop — all the time.
During her freshman year of high school, McDowell’s commitment to the game showed in a two-week stretch when she asked Rogers to open the gym at 5 a.m. every single day. That’s when Rogers knew she had a rising star on her hands.
With collegiate coaching experience and 11 years at Cypress Springs High in Texas, Rogers had never seen such dedication in a player.
“She spends hours in the gym,” Rogers said. “Ayla’s the type of player to wake me up, and I’m like, ‘I don’t want to get up,’ but if a kid wants to work, I’m there. That’s just been the hard work and dedication she’s brought over the last four years. It has honestly made her the player that she is.”
That hard work opened the door for McDowell to sign with the University of South Carolina as Dawn Staley’s first addition to the 2025 class.
“It feels great. It’s a blessing to be able to go to college for free. And signing to one of the greatest programs in women’s basketball, it’s amazing,” said McDowell, a five-star prospect ranked No. 22 nationally in the HoopGurlz/espnW 100.
McDowell’s versatility sets her apart. She’s a three-level scorer, solid rebounder and fierce defender, capable of guarding multiple positions. She averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists as a junior, leading Cypress Springs to a 30-3 record and a trip to the third round of the state playoffs.
Before McDowell’s arrival, Cypress Springs was on the precipice of being a perennial mainstay on the state playoff scene. It had made the playoffs in the previous three years but won only one game.
With McDowell on board, the team has won seven playoff games in three seasons. But she has bigger ambitions: a state championship.
“With her coming here, it just changed the magnitude of the level of play,” Rogers said. “She just leveled up what we do here at Cy Springs. It’s been fun having her.”
Whenever Rogers needed her to take over a game, McDowell answered. In her sophomore season, struggling in a critical game for a region tournament spot, she had just 12 points through the third quarter.
Rogers pulled her aside and simply told her to take over the game — and McDowell responded with 20 points in the fourth quarter, securing the win and the school’s first-ever berth in the region tournament.
“She was afraid in that moment, but the way that she’s able to be coachable, it just speaks volumes about the type of person and player that she is,” Rogers said. “She’s not afraid to fail, and she welcomes challenges. That’s what makes her special.”
From Tee’s Toddlers to Dawn’s Daycare
Staley sees the same potential, predicting McDowell will one day be a captain for the Gamecocks.
“She’s that put together,” Staley said.
“It makes me feel really good that she can see that for me in the future,” said McDowell, who is currently a captain at Cypress Springs. “I’m definitely gonna work to become a better leader.”
Staley’s reputation for player development was a big factor in McDowell’s decision.
Rogers, affectionately known as “Coach Tee,” prioritizes development as well. She calls her players “Tee’s Toddlers.” Now McDowell is graduating to “Dawn’s Daycare,” Rogers said.
“That’s all I need: the support and love to get to where I want to be,” McDowell said when asked how USC will help her grow.
McDowell also has her sights set on a national championship in college, and she believes South Carolina provides the best opportunity for that.
Rogers has no doubt McDowell will thrive and rise to Staley’s expectations. Cypress Springs has a motto for moments like this: “Find a way.”
“One thing about Ayla McDowell is she’s always gonna find a way,” Rogers said. “She’s gonna find a way to be successful.”
“I’m ready to get to work,” McDowell said. “I’m ready to be pushed. I know it’s probably going to be a little difficult transitioning from high school to college, but I know I’m gonna get through it with the support that I have around me.”
