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Did Dawn Staley secure another title for South Carolina with Ta'Niya Latson, Madina Okot?
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- Did Dawn Staley secure another title for South Carolina with Ta'Niya Latson, Madina Okot?
Three South Carolina women's basketball players and coach Dawn Staley gave an early look at what the 2025-26 team looks like.
Staley lost MiLaysia Fulwiley and Sakima Walker to the transfer portal but brought in Ta'Niya Latson and Madina Okot. Te-Hina Paopao, Sania Feagin and Bree Hall graduated to the WNBA, while two freshmen arrived on campus in Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell.
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Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards and Latson joined Staley at SEC media days in Birmingham, Alabama, on Oct. 14, revealing what's different about this team and why Latson, the nation's leading scorer last year, came to Columbia from Florida State .
"I feel like we're a little more scrappy," Johnson said. "I've been blessed with two great teams but it's just different this year, I don't know exactly what's different but it's different out there and feels good out there."
South Carolina is looking for its sixth straight Final Four appearance and third consecutive trip to the national championship game. Staley has eight 30-win seasons, highlighted by the 38-0 team two years ago when she won her third national championship.
What 6-foot-6 Madina Okot adds for South Carolina, Dawn Staley
Okot is a 6-foot-6 center from Mississippi State who has impressed Staley so far.
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"The person that I think could take our team to the next level, other than Joyce and Ta'Niya, is Madina Okot," Staley said during the SEC Network desk interview. "She is by far, probably the strongest player that we've had in our program."
Starting forward Chloe Kitts tore her ACL and will miss this season, putting more emphasis on the productivity needed from players like Okot and Edwards, who will both presumably start.
"Her ability to be mobile," Staley continued about Okot. "She's got great hands. She's really efficient in the paint. She can actually shoot it too. We got to keep egging her on to take those mid-range shots. She actually closed practice down by knocking down three."
Why Ta'Niya Latson transferred to South Carolina
When Latson, who averaged 25.2 points, entered the portal, her high school teammate Raven Johnson wanted her to come to South Carolina.
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Staley's starting point guard got her wish in April but the reason why Latson came to the Gamecocks was more than just a reunion with her best friend.
"Just the history of the program," Latson said. "Playing under coach Staley is one of the best experiences that a player could have. So just learn, looking to grow, and be the best player that can be."
Staley is bringing a new perspective to amplify other element's of Latson's game.
"She's challenging me on both ends of the floor," Latson said. "Both defensively and offensively, just seeing things that I normally didn't see at Florida State. Just like I said, continue to grow my game and be the best player that can be going into the into the draft."
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Staley complimented Seminoles coach Brooke Wyckoff and how she prepared Latson, saying Latson just wanted a different look.
"We're challenging her to get mentally tougher and to work on some things that she probably wouldn't necessarily work on at Florida State," Staley said. "The scoring load (was) very heavy, and when it's heavy, you tend not to develop those other qualities that you need to take into the next level."
When asked about Tessa Johnson's 3-point shooting, Latson acknowledged how much she's benefitting from Johnson's skill.
"She plays at a high level on both ends of the floor," Latson said. "Just playing with Tessa challenges me, being able to see options that I never got to see at Florida State. I know she's going to knock down those shots."
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com . Follow her on X @Lulukesin and Bluesky @bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Will South Carolina, Dawn Staley win 2026 title because of transfers?
