The addition of Oliviyah Edwards to the South Carolina women’s basketball program has reshaped what an already loaded roster could look like heading into next season. With 12 players already signed and Edwards now in the fold, the Gamecocks enter the offseason with one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the country.
A thirteenth scholarship addition appears unlikely at this stage. Ashlyn Watkins remains a potential piece of the puzzle, though her return has yet to be made official, so she has been left out of the equation for now.
To make sense of the rotation, the roster can be divided into two units — backcourt and frontcourt — though Edwards’ versatility creates some natural overlap between the two.
(Projected starters in bold. Heights sourced from FIBA where available.)
BACKCOURT
Point guard: Maddy McDaniel (JR, 5-9)
Guard: Tessa Johnson (SR, 6-0), Jerzy Robinson (FR, 6-2)
Wing: Agot Makeer (SO, 6-2), Jordan Lee (JR, 6-0), Ayla McDowell (SO, 6-1), Kaeli Wynn (FR, 6-2)
The wing designation in Dawn Staley’s system has evolved since Brea Beal’s departure. Without Beal functioning as a true small forward, the line between guard and wing has blurred considerably. What distinguishes the wing role now is size and defensive ability rather than a rigid positional label.
The decision not to bring in a transfer point guard speaks volumes about the program’s confidence in McDaniel. Staley appears ready to hand her the keys to the offense.
Johnson, Lee, and Makeer figure to carry the heaviest load in the backcourt, regardless of starting assignments. Makeer projects as a starter given her size advantage over Lee, and the priority of keeping either Lee or Johnson on the floor at all times makes the pairing more manageable off the bench.
Both Johnson and Makeer handled brief point guard duties last season, but they’ll be asked to take on more of that responsibility in 2025-26. Lee has not traditionally functioned as a primary ball-handler, so sliding her into a reserve role gives Johnson and Makeer more flexibility to operate on the ball.
Robinson is difficult to underrate. A physical, two-way contributor who can score, defend, and rebound, she is arguably the third-best option at all three backcourt positions and could push for a larger role quickly.
FRONTCOURT
Forward: Chloe Kitts (R-SR, 6-3), Alicia Tournebize (SO, 6-7), Oliviyah Edwards (FR, 6-3)
Post: Joyce Edwards (JR, 6-3), Kelsi Andrews (FR, 6-3), Adhel Tac (R-JR, 6-5)
The simplest projection places Kitts and Joyce Edwards in the starting lineup — they are the only two former All-Americans on the roster, and that pedigree matters.
Joyce Edwards has shown she can man the post in smaller lineups, as demonstrated against TCU and UConn, but she has had difficulty against more physically imposing opponents. How she develops physically over the summer will be a key factor in her effectiveness at that level.
Tournebize, meanwhile, lacked the strength to hold her own consistently in the post as a freshman. A full offseason in South Carolina’s strength and conditioning program could change that calculus. If Kitts is not at full health following her ACL recovery at the start of the season, Staley may opt to slot Tournebize into the starting five spot. That scenario would shift Joyce Edwards to the four, with Kitts transitioning into a high-value reserve role — reminiscent of how Joyce Edwards herself was used as a freshman. Kitts’ shooting range also gives her the flexibility to play as an oversized wing in certain lineups.
Oliviyah Edwards brings elite athleticism and the highest ceiling on the roster, but her game still needs refinement at the college level. Robinson likely has a head start in terms of readiness. Edwards is expected to begin the season as the third forward and could also see time as the third post option, with her development over the next several months determining just how quickly that role expands.
