In recognition of 25 seasons of Gamecock women’s basketball this century, we recently counted down the top 25 moments of the last quarter-century. Now we’ll do the same for the top 25 players.
Today, we’ll cover players 25 through 11. We’ll release the top ten in the coming days.
Only a player’s time at South Carolina counts; nothing at another school or in the WNBA. Also, if a player’s career began in the 20th century, those seasons before 2000-01 don’t count.
Volume matters, so four good seasons might be better than one great season. That being said, there is admittedly a benefit of the doubt given to players with eligibility left. And even on a list of individuals, you play to win the game
It’s my list; deal with the inconsistencies.
First, a few that just missed the cut: Ieasia Walker, Petra Ujhelyi, and Bianca Cuevas-Moore. If I do this list next year, I am convinced Ta’Niya Latson will be on it. But until she plays in the garnet and black, I can’t include her.
25. Bree Hall (2021-25)
147 games, 5.8 points, 36.9 3P%, 2.3 rebounds
Hall’s stats don’t tell the story. She was a glue player who earned immediate playing time with her energy and hustle. She became a two-year starter who guarded the other team’s best perimeter player and had a knack for knocking down clutch baskets, earning her the nickname “Big Shot Breezy.” She appeared in four Final Fours and won two national championships.
24. MiLaysia Fulwiley (2023-25)
77 games, 11.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.8 blocks
Fulwiley was the second-hardest player for me to rank. When she got hot, she could do things on the court that nobody else could do. She could play elite defense and get to the rim at will. But as quickly as she could get hot, Fulwiley would lose focus and her poor shot selection and mental lapses made her unplayable.
23. Ashlyn Watkins (2022-25)
84 games, 7.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 blocks, 1.0 steals
Watkins is a superb defender and an elite athlete, the only Gamecock to ever dunk in a game. She was the best defender on the undefeated 2024 squad. As a junior, she only played 14 games due to injury, or Watkins would be higher on the list.
22. Raven Johnson (2021-current)
114 games, 5.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.5 steals
Johnson was the hardest player to rank. Her shortcomings as a shooter and scorer have often overshadowed her abilities as a playmaker and defender. The bottom line is that Johnson has been PG1 on two Final Four teams and an undefeated national champion. She wins games.
21. Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (2016-20)
136 games, 8.8 points, 39.1 3P%, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks
Herbert Harrigan won a national championship as a freshman, but she was hardly an impact player. She was one of the only consistent players on the forgettable 2019 squad, and then, as “Mad Kiki,” became the emotional leader of the dominant 2020 team. Herbert Harrigan is tied for the third-most career blocks in program history.
20. Tessa Johnson (2023-current)
72 games, 7.5 points, 43.1 3P%, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Johnson made an immediate impact as a freshman, hitting clutch baskets in South Carolina’s 2024 tournament run and then stealing the show from Caitlin Clark in the national championship game to cement her status as “Tournament Tessa.” Johnson was even better as a sophomore, becoming an underrated defender. She is second in career three-point shooting percentage at South Carolina.
19. Cristina Ciocan (2000-2004)
116 games, 8.7 points, 5.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals
Ciocan graduated as South Carolina’s all-time assists leader (615). That record has been broken, but she is still the leader in assists per game. Unfortunately, South Carolina got worse each season of Ciocan’s career despite her big numbers, or she would be ranked higher.
18. Brea Beal (2019-2020)
138 games, 6.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Beal is the second-best defender South Carolina has had. Her ability to completely eliminate the other team’s best player was unmatched (and unappreciated). During the 2022 championship run, Beal guarded the opponents’ top scorers each game and allowed just 29 points for the entire tournament.
17. Kaela Davis (2016-17)
37 games, 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals
Davis was hard to place because she only played one season. But she made the most of it, helping the short-handed Gamecocks win their first national championship. Davis was a streak scorer who could – and did – get hot and score in bunches.
16. Joyce Edwards (2024-current)
39 games, 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals
Edwards had one of the best freshman seasons in program history and led South Carolina to the national championship game. She’s going to end up ranked a lot higher, but for now, the small sample size keeps her here.
15. Zia Cooke (2019-2023)
137 games, 13.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Cooke probably didn’t get enough credit during her four seasons because the focus was often on what she didn’t do. But what she did do was score a lot, finishing eighth on South Carolina’s career scoring list (and fourth among players on this list). There were many games when Cooke was the only offense South Carolina had. She was also a better defender than she got credit for, and a steady point guard and leader by her senior season.
14. La’Keisha Sutton (2008-2012)
125 games, 10.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals
You can have long debates about where Sutton belongs on this list. She went into almost every matchup smaller and less skilled than her opponent (although she did become a Harlem Globetrotter), but nobody had more grit and determination than Sutton. More times than not, she came out on top. South Carolina doesn’t become a winning program without La’Keisha Sutton.
13. Chloe Kitts (2022-current)
93 games, 8.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Kitts was a starter on the 2024 title team, and last year she took home SEC Tournament MVP, NCAA regional MVP, and All-American honors. She is versatile and tough, doing whatever South Carolina needs from her to win, while never complaining about the beating she takes from bigger opponents.
12. Destanni Henderson (2018-2022)
129 games, 9.5 points, 37.9 3P%, 3.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals
As a sophomore, Henny was South Carolina’s sixth woman, backing up both guard positions. She became the starting point guard as a junior, and by her senior season, Henderson knew exactly how to balance her scoring and playmaking abilities. South Carolina made the Final Four in both of Henderson’s seasons as the starting point guard, and in her final game, she scored a career-high 26 points and shut down Paige Bueckers to beat UConn for the 2024 national championship.
11. Te-Hina Paopao (2023-25)
76 games, 10.2 points, 42.2 3P%, 2.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists
In the spring of 2023, Dawn Staley knew she needed a shooter, so she brought in Paopao, who led the nation in three-point percentage in 2023-24. Paopao was named second-team All-American, and South Carolina went undefeated. Last season, Paopao was less of a scorer, but South Carolina made another appearance in the national title game, and Paopao made strides as a ball-handler and defender.
Who are the top ten?
