NCAAW: Don’t expect South Carolina’s dominance to slow down

Just over one week into the 2025-26 season, and it’s business as usual for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks.

At 2-0 with an average margin of victory of 53.5 points, South Carolina maintained their No. 2 ranking in the AP poll, again collecting two first-place votes. Tuesday brings the Gamecocks’ first Power Four opponent to Columbia—but don’t expect anything different.

South Carolina will go for their 15th-straight win over in-state “rival” Clemson (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Tigers also enter the contest at 2-0.

The Gamecocks have achieved their early dominance on both sides of the ball and from up-and-down the roster.

On offense, six Gamecocks are scoring in double figures, with senior guard Ta’Niya Latson and sophomore forward Joyce Edwards leading with matching averages of 18.5 points per game. Both are doing most of their damage inside the arc, serving as the leading indicators of South Carolina’s overall excellence from 2-point range. As a team, the Gamecocks are making almost 68 percent of their 2s, with all 10 players having hit at least half their shots thus far.

The team’s number from 3, however, might be even more impressive, as South Carolina is sinking 45.5 percent of their shot from behind the arc, albeit on just 16.5 attempts per game. Junior guard Tessa Johnson is the squad’s premier sharpshooter, looking like one of the most dangerous deep shooters in the sport as she has converted 45.5 percent of her 5.5 3s per game. Better than 50 percent performances from deep by senior guard Raven Johnson and freshman guards Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer will probably not sustain, yet the Gamecocks, once again, are earning easy points by other means.

The Gamecocks get to line with frequency, benefitting from more than 20 points per game via free throws thus far. Latson, likewise, leads that effort. Transition also is source of easy scores for South Carolina, as they have turned defense into offense to the tune of 34.5 points per game. Speaking of defense, South Carolina has permitted their opponents to score no more than 54 points nor shoot better than 27.4 percent from the field.

The Gamecocks aren’t expected to have their full complement of depth against Clemson. Sophomore guard Maddy McDaniel has been limited to eight minutes on the season after suffering a knee injury in the opener. Makeer exited the game against Bowling Green with an injury.

Obviously, more challenging opponents, beginning with No. 8 USC in Los Angeles on Saturday, will add some tarnish to South Carolina’s sparkling statistical resume. Yet, that the Gamecocks have refused to allow overmatched opponents to hang around at all, instead playing with an attention to detail from the opening tip, has to please Staley and all South Carolina FAMs.

Staley and the South Carolina faithful also were blessed with more pleasant news on Monday when Kaeli Wynn, the No. 17-ranked recruit in the class of 2026, announced her commitment to South Carolina. A 6-foot-2 wing who possesses the versatility to play on the perimeter or in the paint, Wynn selected South Carolina over Stanford, telling ESPN:

I chose South Carolina because of Coach Staley’s leadership, the program’s championship culture and the energy of Gamecock Nation that made Columbia feel like home. I’m looking forward to competing at the highest level and helping the Gamecocks win more SEC and national championships.

Reputed for her leadership and confidence, in addition to her well-rounded game, Wynn seems sure to enhance another stacked South Carolina roster in 2026. She joins Kelsi Andrews, a 6-foot-3 forward from Florida who recently underwent a third major knee surgery, in the Gamecocks’ class of 2026. South Carolina also remains in the running for the services of the much-coveted Jerzy Robinson, the No. 5-ranked recruit in the class.

Yep, everything is going great for the Gamecocks!