Though it enters Sunday’s NCAA Tournament championship game against UConn as an underdog, South Carolina has been the standard in women’s college basketball over the past several years, the leader that the other programs across the Division I level often find themselves chasing.
The Gamecocks have earned a No. 1 seed in each of the past five NCAA Tournaments. They’re appearing in their fifth-consecutive Final Four. They’ve won two of the past three national championships, with a third in four years on Sunday potentially solidifying them as the sport’s first dynasty since, fittingly, the UConn program they’re facing off against at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
South Carolina has gotten to that exalted place through talented, carefully constructed rosters that have a deft hand in coach Dawn Staley guiding them.
REQUIRED READING: UConn vs South Carolina live updates: Women’s March Madness championship TV channel, picks
This year’s group of Gamecocks is no exception, though it notably doesn’t feature a single player who made the Associated Press All-American first, second or third teams. Despite losing key contributors like Kamilla Cardoso from last season’s national championship team, South Carolina has racked up a 34-4 record and another Final Four berth behind several players who have stepped up and assumed larger roles, from dynamic guard MiLaysia Fulwiley to forward Chloe Kitts to freshman forward Joyce Edwards, who wasn’t even on the team last season.
FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA women’s basketball scores, schedules, teams and more.
As South Carolina prepares to take on Paige Bueckers and UConn, here’s a closer look at the team’s roster that got it to the precipice of yet another national title:
South Carolina women’s basketball roster
Here’s a look at the Gamecocks’ 2024-25 roster, including jersey numbers, player heights, class and hometowns:
- 0 Te-Hina Paopao G Sr. 5′ 9″ – Oceanside, CA
- 1 Maddy McDaniel G Fr. 5′ 9″ – Upper Marlboro, MD
- 2 Ashlyn Watkins F Jr. 6′ 3″ – Columbia, SC
- 5 Tessa Johnson G Soph. 6′ 0″ – Albertville, MN
- 8 Joyce Edwards F Fr. 6′ 3″ – Camden, SC
- 12 MiLaysia Fulwiley G Soph. 5′ 10″ – Columbia, SC
- 15 Adhel Tac F Fr. 6′ 5″ – Grand Prairie, TX
- 20 Sania Feagin F Sr. 6′ 3″ – Ellenwood, GA
- 21 Chloe Kitts F Jr. 6′ 2″ – Oviedo, FL
- 23 Bree Hall G Sr. 6′ 0″ – Dayton, OH
- 25 Raven Johnson G Jr. 5′ 9″ – Atlanta, GA
- 30 Maryam Dauda F Jr. 6′ 4″ – Bentonville, AR
- 35 Sakima Walker C Sr. 6′ 5″ – Columbus, OH
No. 8 Joyce Edwards stats
As just a freshman, Edwards is leading South Carolina in scoring, at 12.7 points per game. The South Carolina native and former five-star recruit is also third on the team in rebounding, with five per game. The 6-foot-3 forward hasn’t just been productive, but efficient, making 53.5% of her field goal attempts and 78.5% of her free throws.
No. 12 MiLaysia Fulwiley stats
Though she’s averaging just 19 minutes per game, Fulwiley has made that time count. The 5-foot-10 sophomore, who grew up in the university’s shadow in Columbia, South Carolina, is averaging 11.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She has been occasionally erratic, though, shooting just 42.4% from the field and 25.8% from 3-point range.
REQUIRED READING: South Carolina seniors one win away from 3rd NCAA national title under coach Dawn Staley
No. 21 Chloe Kitts stats
Kitts has been primarily responsible for filling behind the void left by Cardoso, who’s now in the WNBA, in the Gamecocks’ frontcourt. The 6-foot-2 Kitts is averaging 10.2 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field and 35% from 3.
No. 0 Te-Hina Paopao stats
An Oregon transfer in her second season with the program, Paopao has been South Carolina’s most prolific outside shooter, having drained 59 3s this season at a 37.1% clip. She’s also averaging a team-high 2.9 assists per game and is scoring 9.6 points per game, the fourth-best mark on the team.
Dawn Staley record
Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of women’s college basketball’s marquee programs in her 17 seasons there. During that time, her teams have gone 475-109, including a 383-43 mark since the start of the 2013-14 season. That run has included seven Final Fours and three national championships.
Staley was previously the head coach for eight seasons at Temple in her hometown of Philadelphia, where she went 172-80 with five NCAA Tournament appearances.
