USC Women's Basketball

South Carolina WBB turns corner toward 2025-26 season with new-look roster

Stories by The State journalists, with AI summarization

South Carolina's women's basketball team is preparing for a pivotal 2025-26 season that hinges on a rebuilt roster and overcoming injuries. Across these stories, a common theme emerges: The team strategically added key transfers and freshmen, aiming to maintain a competitive edge in the SEC and nationally.

In one article, Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot, two significant transfer additions, shared that their decision to join South Carolina was influenced by the team's established reputation and the opportunity to develop under head coach Dawn Staley. However, challenges arose with Ashlyn Watkins taking a year off due to an ACL injury and forward Chloe Kitts also ruled out for the season with a similar injury. Despite the setbacks, Watkins is actively supporting her teammates off the court and aims to return stronger next season. Meanwhile, Kitts is determined to remain involved with and supportive of the team.

New assistant coach Wendale Farrow adds experience and a new perspective to the team's strategies. These changes occur as the Gamecocks face a robust schedule that includes significant non-conference games, but notably excludes a traditional matchup with UConn. Overall, with South Carolina ranked high in preseason polls and predicted to lead in the SEC, the Gamecocks aim to leverage their new roster and strategic offseason moves to navigate the challenges of an intense season ahead.

University of South Carolina women’s basketball transfer Madina Okot is interviewed by members of the media on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Okot transferred from Mississippi State. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 1: SOUTH CAROLINA WBB TRANSFERS EXPLAIN WHAT DREW THEM TO DAWN STALEY, GAMECOCKS

Madina Okot and Ta’Niya Latson are new additions to USC’s roster. | Published July 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

New South Carolina assistant women’s basketball coach Wendale Farrow during a Gamecocks’ practice.

NO. 2: HOW COACHING GAVE SOUTH CAROLINA WBB’S NEWEST ASSISTANT DIRECTION WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST

Get to know Wendale Farrow, Dawn Staley’s newest assistant with the Gamecocks. | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards (8) brings the ball downcourt as Texas’ Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda (32) pressures during the first half at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Friday, April 4, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 3: MARK YOUR CALENDARS: SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL’S 2025-26 SCHEDULE IS SET

The South Carolina women’s basketball team released its full 2025-26 schedule on Friday. | Published August 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley yells to her team during the first half of action at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham on Friday, March 28, 2025 in the Birmingham 2 regional of the NCAA Tournament. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 4: AN EARLY LOOK AT THE BEST GAMES ON SOUTH CAROLINA WBB’S 2025-26 SCHEDULE

South Carolina women’s basketball released its long-awaited full 2025-26 schedule on Friday. | Published August 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

Dawn Staley at South Carolina women's basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. By Dwayne McLemore

NO. 5: DAWN STALEY EXPLAINS SOUTH CAROLINA’S NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULING STRATEGY

Back in March, Dawn Staley went as far as to say she might consider changing how she builds future schedules after South Carolina women’s basketball was snubbed for the No. | Published September 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

Ayla McDowell at South Carolina women's basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. By Dwayne McLemore

NO. 6: FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA WBB'S TWO FRESHMEN

Dawn Staley added two freshmen, Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer, to the South Carolina women’s basketball roster this year. | Published September 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina’s Raven Johnson (25) practices at the Amalie Arena in Tampa Florida on Thursday, April 3, 2025. The Gamecocks play Texas in the semifinal round of the NCAA Tournament. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 7: WHY RAVEN JOHNSON, IN HER LAST GAMECOCKS BASKETBALL SEASON, IS AT HER BEST

As the college basketball season approaches, so does Raven Johnson’s last ride. | Published October 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

Ta'Niya Latson at South Carolina women's basketball practice on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. By Dwayne McLemore

NO. 8: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HIGH-PROFILE TRANSFER TA’NIYA LATSON AT SOUTH CAROLINA

Ta’Niya Latson was South Carolina’s biggest transfer portal acquisition this offseason — and arguably the biggest portal pickup in all of women’s college basketball. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards (8) is pressured by University of Connecticut’s Sarah Strong (21) during the second half of action against the University of Connecticut for the NCAA National Championship at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, April 6, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 9: SEE WHERE SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL IS IN ESPN PRESEASON RANKINGS

ESPN released its preseason college women’s basketball rankings on Tuesday with the season set to start in a matter of weeks. | Published October 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

The Gamecocks celebrate winning the SEC Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The University of South Carolina beat Texas, 64-45 to claim their 9th SEC Championship win. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 10: THE BEST AGAIN: SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREDICTED TO WIN SEC

The SEC released its 2025-26 women’s basketball predicted order of finish Monday with a familiar team on top: | Published October 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins (2) comes onto the court during the SEC Tournament at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville on Saturday, March 8, 2025. Watkins suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 11: DAWN STALEY GIVES LATEST ON ASHLYN WATKINS, WHAT’S AHEAD

South Carolina women’s basketball kicked off the 2025-26 season on Monday with its first official practice of the year. | Published September 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael Sauls

University of South Carolina’s Chloe Kitts (21) warms up before the Gamecocks face Indiana in the Second Round game of the NCAA Tournament at the Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, March 23, 2025. By Tracy Glantz

NO. 12: CHLOE KITTS INJURY: SOUTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL STAR TO MISS SEASON

South Carolina women’s basketball will be without one of its top players this season. | Published October 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lou Bezjak

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.