5-star Oliviyah Edwards commits to Dawn Staley, South Carolina WBB

South Carolina women’s basketball is making a big splash with a late addition to its 2026 recruiting class.

Five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards announced her commitment Thursday to Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks.

Edwards is the No. 3-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 by ESPN. The 6-foot-3 forward attends Lincoln High School in Washington state, was a McDonald’s All-American and a one-time Tennessee Lady Vols pledge.

South Carolina initially missed out on landing Edwards and her talents. The Gamecocks were part of her top six finalists back in August — alongside LSU, Tennessee, Southern Cal, Florida and Washington — but Edwards announced her commitment to Tennessee a month later in what was a massive recruiting victory for the Lady Vols.

Edwards signed with Tennessee in November but reopened her recruitment in April after she was granted a release from her letter of intent. Her departure from Tennessee’s class came during the program’s mass roster exodus. Tennessee lost eight players to the transfer portal this year, per On3’s tracker.

A week later, Edwards was in Columbia on a visit with the Gamecocks. She was seen at a South Carolina baseball game alongside Staley and other Gamecocks on April 14. Edwards committed to South Carolina a little over a week later.

“Sometimes it takes twice to get it right,” Edwards posted on social media.

Edwards brings an impressive skill set to South Carolina. She can dunk and was described as the “most intriguing” prospect in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports director of women’s basketball scouting Brandon Clay.

“Edwards is a fantastic frontcourt option when sprinting the lane in the open floor,” Clay said. “In that regard, she is the most intriguing prospect in the class right now. She possesses a physical toolbox that no one else has. Edwards is also showing signs of making the 15- to 18-foot jumper when her feet are set. Her calling card is her willingness to rebound the basketball and be impactful in the paint.”

ESPN ranked USC’s 2026 recruiting class as No. 4 in the country last month but adding Edwards gives South Carolina an argument for the No. 1 spot.

The Gamecocks are now expecting three five-star recruits to be on campus with Edwards, guard Jerzy Robinson (No. 6 in the class) and forward Kaeli Wynn (No. 19). And South Carolina is bringing in one of the highest-rated four-star recruits in forward Kelsi Andrews (No. 30).

South Carolina’s 2026-27 roster

• Returners: Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, Ayla McDowell, Maddy McDaniel, Alicia Tournebize, Adhel Tac, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins
• Incoming freshmen: Jerzy Robinson, Kaeli Wynn, Kelsi Andrews and Oliviyah Edwards
• Incoming transfers: Jordan Lee (Texas)

This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 11:34 AM.

Michael Sauls

The State

Michael Sauls is The State’s South Carolina women’s basketball reporter. He previously worked at The Virginian-Pilot covering Norfolk State and Hampton University sports. A Columbia native, he is an alum of the University of South Carolina.