Future Gamecock Ayla McDowell already has experience facing WNBA pros
South Carolina women’s basketball fans got a sneak peek at a future Gamecock during this year’s WNBA preseason games.
Two WNBA teams played games in early May against the Brazilian National Team, whose roster just happens to include incoming USC freshman Ayla McDowell.
McDowell is a five-star wing who is ranked No. 15 in ESPN’s Top 100 recruits for Class of 2025. The Texas native and McDonald’s All-American became the first member of South Carolina’s 2025 recruiting class when she signed with with the Gamecocks in November 2024.
WNBA experience offers lessons in physicality
McDowell’s first game came against the Chicago Sky on Friday night in Baton Rouge, Louisiana — a homecoming for Sky star and LSU alum Angel Reese.
The Sky won the game 89-62. McDowell scored two points and recorded two rebounds and two blocks in her 14 minutes off the bench.
The Brazilian National Team played again Sunday against the Indiana Fever in Iowa City, Iowa — a homecoming for Fever star and Iowa alum Caitlin Clark.
McDowell played 14 minutes off the bench and recorded four points and four rebounds in the 108-44 loss.
The incoming Gamecock wasn’t satisfied with her performances, but did her best to keep things in perspective: She’s an 18-year-old playing against the best women’s basketball players in the world.
And she’s not even in college yet.
“I always think about how bad I did this weekend. I keep thinking I didn’t do as good as I wanted to,” she said. “But a lot of people are telling me, ‘Ayla, you scored against pros. You got a shot off against pros. That’s hard to do.’ I just keep telling myself, nah, I still played bad. But honestly, I think I just need to sit down and think about that. It’s hard to do that, get shots off (against) pros at this young of an age.”
McDowell’s biggest takeaways from her games against against the pros?
“First, I need to get in the weight room,” McDowell said through a laugh.
The physicality of the pro level helped her realize just how mentally and physically strong she needs to be, she said, though that’s something she’ll be able to work on at South Carolina.
“The biggest thing that I’ve learned (is) you have to be really strong at this level and you got to put in the work consistently to be like that,” McDowell said. “Conditioning and weight room was probably the biggest thing I’ve learned. I thought I was in OK shape because I wasn’t really tired going up and down. I think my legs were really tired.
“I wasn’t in shooting shape, but running up and down-wise, I was OK. So I think if I just get a little bit better at that, and then just obviously get in the weight room, it’s just gonna help me so much more.”
Chatting with Gamecock greats
McDowell faced off against former Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso in the game against the Sky.
Cardoso and McDowell are linked through their time of both playing for the Brazilian National Team. McDowell’s mother is Brazilian, and Cardoso herself is from Montes Claros, Brazil.
“We all gave her a hug,” McDowell said.
In her second preseason game, McDowell ran into former Gamecocks Aliyah Boston and Bree Hall with the Indiana Fever.
McDowell said she chatted with Hall briefly before the game and Boston afterward.
“Aliyah Boston, she came up to me and she introduced herself,” McDowell said. “First of all, she pulled me out the line to give high-fives and she’s like, ‘I know you don’t know me,’ and I’m like, ‘Girl, I know who you are. I know exactly who you are.’ ”
Boston shared some words of wisdom with McDowell, who said she was grateful both former Gamecocks made time for her.
“It was just so sweet,” McDowell said. “(Boston) just told me, just keep being me, she can already see the talent and that I’m gonna be great. And she said, if you need anything, just let me know and I really appreciated that. …
“I was so appreciative for that and it was so shocking because, again, like it’s Aliyah Boston. She’s, like, literally the coolest person ever.”
A bit starstruck
Although McDowell is a few months away from college ball, she’s still a kid and a fan at heart.
So it made sense to be a bit starstruck while sharing the court with some of the best players in pro basketball.
“When I was on the court and I was with Kia Nurse, Kamilla and Angel, I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I was low-key fangirling, I’m not gonna even lie to you,” McDowell said. “I was on the court, literally playing against the best of the best. So I was just trying to have fun, just trying to enjoy the moment.”
The same thing happened when McDowell played the Fever a few days later. This time it was when she was matched up with Clark.
Clark at one point in the third quarter drilled a near-half court shot. She took the shot from just behind where her No. 22 is stamped on the court, marking where she hit the basket that made her the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.
“When Caitlin Clark hit that three it was so loud,” McDowell said. “So loud my ears almost busted. It was so cool, I was on the bench and I was trying so hard not to smile. I didn’t know if I could smile or if I should keep it straight. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. It was probably the coolest moment. Then when she was guarding me at some point, I was like, ‘Oh, wow. Caitlin Clark is guarding me. That’s crazy.’ ”
