2026 WNBA season is here. See which Gamecocks made opening-day rosters
When the 2026 WNBA season kicks off Friday night, there will be no shortage of South Carolina women’s basketball representation across the league.
As of Friday, 12 former Gamecocks are on opening-day rosters. That mark sets a new program record. The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever have the most of Dawn Staley’s former players (three each) on the roster.
The WNBA’s opening weekend features 11 games across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Connecticut vs. New York will start the weekend at 7 p.m. Friday, and Phoenix vs. Golden State will end the weekend at 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Two games on Saturday between will be televised on ABC (Dallas vs. Indiana, and Phoenix vs. Las Vegas).
Here’s where you can find each former Gamecock playing in the WNBA.
Atlanta Dream
Gamecocks on the roster: Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao, Madina Okot
Gray is coming off the best year of her career as she enters her 10th season in the WNBA. Last year, Gray earned her first All-WNBA selection after averaging a career-high 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Gray finished fourth in MVP voting and earned her third-straight All-Star nod. Gray is No. 7 on ESPN’s Top 50 WNBA Players list.
Paopao enters the second year of her professional career. During her rookie season last year she served mainly as a steady presence off the bench. Paopao played in 43 games (although she did start 15 contests) and averaged 5.8 points per game.
Okot was selected by the Dream with the No. 13 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 WNBA draft. Dream head coach Karl Smesko has praised Okot for the potential she’s shown through training camp.
Chicago Sky
Gamecocks on the roster: Kamilla Cardoso
There were no signs of a sophomore slump during Cardoso’s second year in the WNBA. Last season she started all but one of the 40 games she played in for Chicago.
Cardoso nearly averaged a double-double, posting career highs in points (13.6) and rebounds per game (8.5). She’ll continue to be a strong post presence for a new-look Sky team in 2026.
Golden State Valkyries
Gamecocks on the roster: Laeticia Amihere
Amihere made the opening-day roster after she just missed the cut last season.
Last year, Amihere was waived the day before the season opened, but was re-signed a month later and finished the season with the Valkyries. She ultimately played 29 games for Golden State and averaged 5.4 points and 4.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per contest.
This will be Amihere’s fourth season in the WNBA.
Indiana Fever
Gamecocks on the roster: Aliyah Boston, Tyasha Harris, Raven Johnson
Boston has been a force in her three years as a professional. She’s coming off a 2025 season that saw her earn her first All-WNBA and All-WNBA Defensive selections. Boston averaged a career high with 15 points per game last year and added 8.2 rebounds per game. The Indiana Fever awarded her by signing her to a four-year contract extension worth $6.3 million. Boston’s contract set the record for richest deal in league history. Boston is No. 14 on ESPN’s Top 50 WNBA players list.
Harris is entering her seventh year in the WNBA but first with the Fever. Last year, Harris was traded to the Dallas Wings in a massive four-team deal in February. She played just five games for the Wings before a knee injury kept her sidelined for the remainder of the season. Harris was coming off the best year of her career in 2024, when she averaged 10.5 points and three assists for the Connecticut Sun.
Johnson was selected by the Fever with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Fever head coach Stephanie White has praised her defensive skills and activity on both sides of the ball during training camp.
Las Vegas Aces
Gamecocks on the roster: A’ja Wilson
Wilson is arguably the best women’s basketball player in the world right now, and she added to her already-impressive resume last season. Wilson is No. 1 on ESPN’s Top 50 WNBA players list.
Last year, Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to win a fourth MVP award. She led the Aces to their third WNBA championship in the last four years and was named the WNBA’s Co-Defensive Player of the Year (her third time winning the award).
Wilson averaged 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 2.3 blocks for Las Vegas in 2025. She earned her seventh All-Star nod, sixth All-WNBA selection and fifth All-Defensive nod last season. Her performance last year earned her a three-year supermax contract worth $5 million last month that was the richest deal in WNBA history until Boston signed her contract a few days later.
Los Angeles Sparks
Gamecocks on the roster: Sania Feagin, Ta’Niya Latson
Feagin is entering her second year as a pro and with the Sparks. Feagin made an appearance in 16 games for LA during her rookie campaign last season. She averaged 1.3 points in 4.8 minutes per game for the Sparks.
Latson was selected with the No. 20 overall pick in the second round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Head coach Lynne Roberts expects Latson to be part of the Sparks’ rotation during her rookie season.
Seattle Storm
Gamecocks on the roster: Zia Cooke
Cooke is entering her fourth year in the WNBA and second with the Seattle Storm.
Cooke played 26 games for the Storm last season. She averaged 3.5 points in 10 minutes per game.
