These two USC women’s basketball players are among the NCAA’s best, says ESPN
ESPN released its Top 25 best college women’s basketball player rankings heading into the 2025-26 season, which starts next week.
UConn forward Sarah Strong claimed the No. 1 spot while Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks landed two on the list with Ta’Niya Latson and Joyce Edwards.
Here’s where South Carolina players ranked in the Top 25 and what ESPN writers had to say.
No. 7: G Ta’Niya Latson
Latson is coming to Columbia after a prolific three-years at Florida State. She was a three-time All-ACC player and led the nation in scoring last season with 25.2 points per game.
“Her decision to finish her career in Columbia almost certainly changes the Gamecocks’ offensive approach,” ESPN’s Charlie Creme wrote. “Dawn Staley has a bona fide shotmaker in her backcourt who she can turn to for a bucket when one is needed. Latson improved significantly last season as a 3-point shooter (27.0% to 34.3%) and averaged a career-high 4.6 assists. That version of Latson should thrive even more with the talent surrounding her at South Carolina.”
Latson has already earned plenty of preseason honors since arriving in Columbia. She was named to the Preseason All-America team by the Associated Press, Preseason All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches (she was voted to the second team by SEC media) and was recently added to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award watchlist.
No. 11: F Joyce Edwards
Edwards earned All-SEC first team honors after a phenomenal freshman season with the Gamecocks.
She led South Carolina with 12.7 points per game off the bench and is expected to do as much, if not more, in her sophomore year with the Gamecocks.
“An All-SEC first-team member as a freshman, Edwards led a balanced South Carolina attack in scoring last season, despite starting only one game,” ESPN’s Michael Voepel wrote. “She shot 52.9% from the field and became an even bigger presence inside after a season-ending injury to Ashlyn Watkins in January. Edwards was named to the all-tournament team at the Final Four after the Gamecocks’ championship loss to UConn. And in AmeriCup competition over the summer, she was the third-leading scorer (9.9 PPG) for Team USA.”
Edwards earned a Preseason All-SEC First Team nod from the league’s coaches and media earlier this month.
Former Gamecocks make the cut
These two former Gamecocks who have since transferred to other programs also made the Top 25 list:
- No. 19: G MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
- No. 21: G Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Fulwiley is in her first year with LSU after leaving South Carolina back in April. She won a national title her freshman year with the Gamecocks and was the SEC Sixth Player of the year last season.
“Despite earning SEC Sixth Player of the Year honors in her sophomore season at South Carolina, Fulwiley got buried a bit in the rotation due to how many guard options the Gamecocks had,” ESPN’s Kendra Andrews wrote. “Now at LSU — which also has a stacked roster — Fulwiley expects to have more opportunities. A momentum-shifting guard, she will get a chance to start alongside Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, who could prove to be a lethal trio.”
Cooper is entering her second full season with Tennessee. She transferred after her freshman year with the Gamecocks but had to sit out for the 2023-24 season due to the timing of her transfer.
“The wait was worth it, and she became one of the SEC’s top players last season,” Voepel wrote. “She led the Lady Vols in scoring and the SEC in steals (3.1 SPG), making the league’s all-defensive team. She also shot 50.9% from 2-point range, but 26.7% from behind the arc, so that’s an area she will look to improve.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM.
