When A’ja Wilson took her talents to the WNBA in 2018, many wondered how the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball program would recover without its superstar talent. After helping raise the program’s first championship banner in 2017 and reaching the Elite Eight the following season, the chatter only increased.
After the 2018-19 season, the Gamecocks lost 10 games, which was the highest amount under Hall of Famer Dawn Staley in nearly eight seasons. One day, a book will be written about the program’s remarkable overnight rebound to the national stage. Destanni Henderson committed to South Carolina ahead of the 2018-19 season, followed by Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal, who were affectionately known as “The Freshies” throughout their collegiate careers.
After going 32-1 and winning the SEC tournament, March Madness was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cruising to March while looking invincible in hopes of hoisting the school’s second title, this is arguably the biggest what-if during the Staley era. After a Final Four loss to Stanford in 2021, this group eventually reached the mountaintop the following season with a win over the UConn Huskies in the national championship game.
SOUTH CAROLINA TAKES HOME THEIR SECOND NATIONAL TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY 🏆 #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/xkojFfyLgb
— ESPN (@espn) April 4, 2022
At the time, Raven Johnson and Sania Feagin were freshmen, and Kamilla Cardoso was a sophomore. With the departures of senior Destanni Henderson, expectations for Johnson and otters increased dramatically, and they responded successfully, helping lead South Carolina to a 36-1 record before suffering a Final Four loss to Iowa.
South Carolina returned just 33.5 percent of its roster from the previous season. Without the veteran leadership of seniors Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Laeticia Amihere, Victaria Saxton, and Brea Beal, the Gamecocks received contributions from players up and down the roster. For example, Cardoso and Ashlyn Watkins took promotions in stride in the frontcourt.
On the wing, the same occurred for Bree Hall, freshman Tessa Johnson, and sophomore Chloe Kitts. For the guards, Raven Johnson took the wheel and steered the ship, with freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley and senior transfer Te-Hina Paopao on standby. Their efforts led South Carolina to its third national title and just the 10th undefeated season in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball history.
Last season, the Gamecocks returned over 83 percent of its roster from he previous season, which led to back-to-back national championship game appearances for the first time in the program’s history. This season, the team returned a hair over half (51.2 percent) of its roster from the 2023-24 season. Unlike previous campaigns, Staley and her staff jumped into the transfer portal headfirst to sustain the program’s championship window. That meant bringing in players like Madina Okot from Mississippi State and Ta’Niya Latson from Florida State.
Ta’Niya Latson is currently scoring more points per game in transition than she ever did at FSU⚡
◾️103 PTS (No. 1 in CBB)
◾️75% FG (also No. 1) pic.twitter.com/is8kiCXOud— Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) December 19, 2025
Staley and her staff brought in the fourth-best recruiting class this year with signings of No. 6 Agot Makeer and No. 15 Ayla McDowell. Letters of intent were signed by five-star prospects Kelsi Andrews out of IMG Academy and Kaeki Wynn from Mater Dei. Earlier this week, South Carolina received a commitment from Jerzy Robinson, the No. 5 prospect in the class of 2026. The program was also in the news because of the commitment from 6’7 French post Alicia Tournbize.
The Gamecocks churn out professionals in basketball like no other over the last decade. From A’ja Wilson to Destanni Henderson to Te-Hina Paopao, this championship spirit of this program isn’t in the value of a name. It’s rooted in passion, spirit, and a level of unselfishness that is rare in team sports. Whether a grizzled veteran leaves the program for the WNBA or overseas, a player willing to make the same commitment is never too far away.
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Born and raised in Chicago, Christan Braswell is a women’s sports journalist with a focus on the WNBA and women’s college basketball. He’s an avid fan of elevator screens and stuffed-crust pizza. Outside of sports, he’s an avid cook and lover of the great outdoors.
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