Ahead to the 2025–2026 season, South Carolina women's

Dawn Staley isn’t a portal powerhouse by default—prior to 2025, Carolina rarely took more than one transfer per offseason, always prioritizing role clarity and system harmony. In 2025, she pivoted from minimal portal activity to adding two elite, high-impact reinforcements: national-scoring guard Ta’Niya Latson and 6′6″ center Madina Okot. This shift signaled intent to both fill unmet needs and preserve the team’s identity (

Despite relative calm in the portal, losing MiLaysia Fulwiley—a seasoned sixth-woman and SEC Sixth-Woman of the Year—created opportunity. Fulwiley’s departure simplified backcourt roles, allowing a defined scoring hierarchy and stronger fit with returning guards

Dawn Staley’s reputation for building an ego-free, defense-first culture proves crucial. Washington Post notes how team-first attitudes and meritocratic rotations draw talent like Latson and Okot, who embraced development over stardom APG, with 2.2 steals and ~45% field-goal efficiency . CBSSports highlights her all-around game: “Latson’s scoring and ability to create her own shot stands out… she also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists”

Skill Set:

Elite scoring: 25 games with 20+ points and seven 30-spot contests, including a 40-point outing
Shooting: ~46% from 3, 84% from FT
Playmaking: 4.6 assists per game show secondary creation ability
Intangibles: Strong ball pressure, effort defense, and clutch personality .

Fit:

AAU chemistry: Reunites seamlessly with Raven Johnson (and formerly Fulwiley), which speeds her integration
Leadership: Fills Carolina’s most glaring gap last season—go-to scorer. Last year’s top scorer had just 12.7 PPG
Efficiency: High-volume, efficient shooting aligns well with Staley’s balanced offensive system

Narrative: College Football Network sums it as, “Latson emerges as the overwhelming favorite to become South Carolina’s breakout star… the most prolific scorer to ever join Staley’s program” .

The Numbers: At 6′6″, Okot averaged 11.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 1.4 SPG and shot 64.9% from the field at Mississippi State .

Skill Set:

Efficient finishinɡ: Nearly 65% field goals, a reliable scoring threat at the rim (Reddit).
Rebounding machine: Nearly a double-double average, dominates SEC glass (College Sports Network).
Defensive anchor: Championship-level rim protection (SBNation.com).
International pedigree: Brings FIBA 3×3 African experience and national team toughness (College Sports Network).

Fit:

Addresses post weakness: South Carolina lacked true height last season; Okot fills that gap (Sportskeeda).
Role clarity: Joins alongside returning frontcourt like Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards; expected split minutes but strong situational fit (On3).
Staley appreciation: Staley praises her “competitiveness, SEC experience”—ideal for the program’s championship lens (College Sports Network).

Narrative: SI frames Okot as the final piece missing—height and paint presence—one Carolina lacked most in their title run loss .

MiLaysia Fulwiley: A spark off the bench and SEC Sixth-Woman in 2025, Fulwiley transferred to LSU . Losing her left a scoring hole, but Staley saw an opportunity to streamline roles and add top-tier talent .

Sakima Walker: A depth center who also exited, opening floor minutes for Okot and seasoned backups .

Overall, Carolina went from losing rotational pieces to upgrading with higher-ceiling players, making the net roster shift substantially positive.

On3 calls South Carolina a “portal powerhouse,” spotlighting Latson’s No. 1 transfer ranking alongside Okot’s acquisition (College Sports Network).
Sportskeeda lays out five takeaways: Staley’s intent, smart slotting of needs, and evolution into a portal-savvy program (Sportskeeda).
SB Nation labels USC “neutral” in portal outcome—effective balance of wins and losses .
CBSSports recognizes Latson as a transformative get, “cool, refreshing gulp” after offensive drought (CBSSports.com).

This places South Carolina among top portal beneficiaries—behind LSU for aggregate winners, but arguably leading in net impact due to strategic fits.

Offense:

With last season’s top scorer at 12.7 PPG, but top transfer adding 25.2 PPG, the offensive ceiling jumps significantly (College Sports Network).
Latson’s 3p shooting stretch opens the floor; Okot’s interior presence promotes post-splits and second-chance points.
Ball movement stays balanced: Staley trusts high-IQ players; existing leaders like Raven Johnson, Joyce Edwards, Sania Feagin, and Te-Hina Paopao build sturdy backcourt mix (Wikipedia, The Washington Post).

Defense:

Okot adds rim protection previously missing, stiffening interior defense.
Latson and others bring active on-ball pressure; team-first identity stays intact .

Depth & Roles:

Clearer roles: Latson the primary guard scorer, returning players with defined roles.
Frontcourt rotation improved: Okot, Kitts, Edwards, Dauda, Tac, Feagin — deeper and more versatile.

Culture:

Staley’s “lack of ego” culture attracts balanced stars willing to buy into team success (On3, The Washington Post).
Latson and Okot fit the mold: they seek development and championships, not immediate stardom or NIL splash.

Joyce Edwards: SEC First-Team All-Freshman forward with 13 PPG, 55.8% FG
Te-Hina Paopao: Veteran sharp-shooter hitting ~48.6% from downtown and top 10 in SEC assists (Wikipedia).

Freshmen like Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell add deeper rotation and athleticism

NY Post lists South Carolina #3 heading into 2025–26, behind UCLA and UConn .
ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 places USC at No. 1, praising portal impact and coaching continuity (ESPN.com).
Analysts highlight USC’s portal combo as championship-ready, specifically calling them one of the nation’s deepest rosters .
Integrating a high-volume scorer like Latson requires balance; Staley will need offensive readjustments .
Okot must mesh with existing bigs and stay out of foul trouble
Replacing Fulwiley’s bench savvy is critical; Latson/Paopao/Edwards must quickly adapt and absorb that role.
Injuries could test depth—relying on young wings and freshmen in later-season runs.

Elite Scoring – Latson delivers game-changing offense.
Paint Presence – Okot brings post defense and rebounding.
Balance – Veteran guards, freshman energy, experienced frontcourt.
Coaching – Staley’s system fosters team-first mentality.
Projections – USC is elite contender, projected nationally top 3

Integrating Latson offensively without hampering team flow.
Redistributing bench production lost with Fulwiley.
Adjusting to Okot’s style while minimizing fouls.

South Carolina’s adaptability and portal strategy position them as a national title favorite. They fixed their two biggest flaws from the 2025 loss—scoring and size—without sacrificing identity. With Staley at the helm, latent talent in the rotation, and a ULTRA-balanced roster, the Gamecocks could win it all in 2026.