The procrastinators guide to South Carolina women’s basketball for 2025 NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament starts this week and South Carolina is a No. 1 seed in the Birmingham 2 Region.
Head coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks are looking to win their second-straight national championship and fourth title in program history.
If you’re a casual hoops fan — or just want to know a bit about one of the best women’s basketball teams in the country — this procrastinator’s guide will get you caught up on where the season stands.
Season recap: How good are the Gamecocks?
South Carolina enters the NCAA Tournament with a 30-3 record and as the No. 2 team in the latest Associated Press Top 25.
The Gamecocks won their third-straight SEC Tournament championship (ninth in program history) to help catapult themselves onto the one-seed line in March Madness.
Their few blemishes on the season were from losses to UCLA, Texas (who South Carolina beat twice) and UConn. Staley believed the Gamecocks had a strong case for the No. 1 overall seed, especially because of their 16 Quad 1 wins that she contended should outweigh the three losses.
Ultimately, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee did not agree and gave the No. 1 overall seed to UCLA.
About the Gamecocks coach: Dawn Staley
Dawn Staley is South Carolina’s head coach and has been since 2008. The pride and joy of Philadelphia, Staley got her coaching start at Temple, where she led the Owls for eight seasons from 2000 to 2008.
Staley played collegiately at Virginia and was a multi-time All-American and Naismith Award-winning point guard. She’s even got an award named after her: the Dawn Staley Award that’s given annually to the best guard in women’s college basketball.
Staley spent nine seasons in the WNBA from 1999 to 2006 and was a five time All-Star. Yes, you’re reading those dates correctly. Staley did coach Temple at the same time she was playing professionally.
Since arriving in Columbia, Staley has turned South Carolina into a perennial powerhouse. She has a 470-109 record with the Gamecocks in her 17 seasons. She’s taken South Carolina to 13 NCAA Tournaments, six Final Fours and is responsible for all three of the program’s national titles.
And she signed a new long-term contract in January that took her annual salary to $4 million a year.
How to watch South Carolina’s first NCAA Tournament game
- Who: No. 1 South Carolina vs No. 16 Tennessee Tech
- When: Friday, 4 p.m.
- Where: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
- TV: ESPN
The roster: South Carolina’s starting five
Te-Hina Paopao: One of the more experienced players in the country, Paopao has played a whopping 147 games in her college career. Of those, 70 have come in the last two years at South Carolina. An All-American last year, Paopao is one of the nation’s best shooters. She’s a steady presence that delivers each time she’s called on by Staley.
Raven Johnson: If you’re in Colonial Life Arena this weekend for the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament, you will most likely hear “one more year” chants from South Carolina fans. Those will be directed toward Johnson. A redshirt junior, Johnson has another year of eligibility to use if she decides to come back to Columbia and push off the pros for another year. Staley would welcome Johnson back with open arms. She’s an All-SEC defender who has continuously improved on offense throughout her career.
Bree Hall: While Paopao has played the most games of any player on the roster in their entire career, no one has played more games in a South Carolina uniform than Hall. “Breezy,” as her teammates call her, is No. 3 in the program record book with 141 games for South Carolina. Hall is a lockdown defender who is known to knock down clutch shots. Staley said recently on the “Carolina Calls” radio show that Hall would be a member of Staley’s all-defensive team among every player she’s ever coached.
Chloe Kitts: The junior forward is playing some of the best basketball of her career. She scored 50 points and brought in 23 rebounds during the three games South Carolina played in the SEC Tournament. Kitts’ extra edge won her SEC Tournament MVP honors. Only time will tell if it earns her more awards this postseason.
Sania Feagin: After spending the first three years of her career coming off the bench, Feagin stepped into the limelight this year for South Carolina. The senior, who was nearly lost her starting spot at one point, has a pretty mid-range jumper and has grown defensively and earned her first All-SEC honors this season with the All-SEC Defensive Team.
First off the South Carolina bench
MiLaysia Fulwiley: The Human Highlight Reel, High Flying Fulwiley, Lay with the Butter ... whatever you want to call her, Fulwiley has the it factor to be a superstar. The sophomore guard has made more than her fair share of appearances on the “SportsCenter” Top 10, and Staley has described her as a “generational talent” on more than one occasion. Fulwiley was named the SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and has worked to improve other aspects of her game, notably her defense, in an effort to prove she’s more than just a flashy player.
Joyce Edwards: South Carolina has struck gold yet again with a homegrown post player. Edwards leads a team in scoring that returned 83.9% of its production from last year’s undefeated national championship squad. The kicker? She’s doing it off the bench. The easy-going freshman the lone Gamecock to earn All-SEC First Team honors and has a case for National Freshman of the Year.
Tessa Johnson: A fan favorite whose 3-point shot is automatic from the corner, Johnson brings up the rear among the “first off the bench” trio that might as well be called “South Carolina’s future big three.” Basketball fans were treated to “Tournament Tessa” last year when she was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team after dropping 19 points — as a freshman — on Iowa in the national championship game. Johnson averaged 12.5 points per game in the final two rounds of the SEC Tournament, a sign she’s ready to provide a boost for the Gamecocks in March Madness.
The deep bench
Maddy McDaniel: Staley affectionately refers to McDaniel as “Mouse,” a likely nod to her small stature. The freshman is listed at 5-foot-9 on South Carolina’s roster. Teammates and coaches alike speak highly of McDaniel and believe her role will continue to increase as her career progresses. Until then, you’ll likely only see McDaniel in spot minutes giving Paopao and Raven Johnson a breather — though that’s a testament to her versatility as a young guard.
Maryam Dauda: The junior is in her first year with the Gamecocks. She’s won more SEC games this year with South Carolina (15) than she did her previous two years at Arkansas combined (13). Dauda’s stats may be down compared to last year (28.7 minutes/10.1 points per game vs 6.5 minutes/2 points) but she proved she can make an impact by playing a vital role in stopping Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
Sakima Walker: The 6-foot-5 senior has dealt with some injury problems this year but appears ready to roll for the Gamecocks in March. Walker’s role has primarily been limited to spot minutes in the post since arriving to South Carolina last year after stints at Rutgers Northwest Florida and Rutgers.
Adhel Tac: Another fan favorite, Tac is a redshirt freshman forward for the Gamecocks. She’s South Carolina’s pregame handshake aficionado who brings a good energy and good vibes to the team. Tac, standing at 6-foot-5, has the tools to be a special player for South Carolina in the future.
Not available for March Madness
Ashlyn Watkins: The junior forward won’t be playing during the NCAA Tournament, but that isn’t exactly news. Watkins was declared out for the season after tearing her ACL in January against Mississippi State. She’s been a keen observer on the bench since her surgery and is well on her way in rehabbing the injury.
This story was originally published March 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM.
