5-star Oliviyah Edwards signs with South Carolina WBB. Here’s what to know
Five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards committed to Dawn Staley and South Carolina women’s basketball on Thursday, giving the Gamecocks a major late addition to their 2026 recruiting class. She officially signed with the program on Monday.
The No. 3-ranked recruit in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, Edwards is a 6-foot-3 forward from Lincoln High School in Washington state and a McDonald’s All-American.
FULL STORY: 5-star Oliviyah Edwards commits to Dawn Staley, South Carolina WBB
Here are key takeaways:
• The signing: Edwards signed with South Carolina after reopening her recruitment in April. She had previously committed to Tennessee in September and signed in November but was granted a release from her letter of intent.
• What Staley said: “Big Oh already has a deep toolbox and elite intangibles,” Staley said in statement Monday from the school. “She can score, pass, handle the ball, defend and process the game at a high level. She’s a competitor, a communicator and a good teammate. With that as her starting point, she has the hunger and the work ethic to continue elevating her game. We’re excited to get started with Big Oh.”
• Why she left Tennessee: Edwards departed Tennessee’s 2026 class during a mass roster exodus. The Lady Vols lost eight players to the transfer portal this year, per On3’s tracker.
• The visit: Edwards was in Columbia on a visit and was seen at a South Carolina baseball game alongside Staley on April 14. She committed a little over a week later, posting on social media, “Sometimes it takes twice to get it right.”
• Class impact: ESPN ranked South Carolina’s 2026 recruiting class No. 4 in the country last month. Edwards joins fellow five-star recruits Jerzy Robinson (No. 6) and Kaeli Wynn (No. 19) and four-star forward Kelsi Andrews (No. 30).
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
