The 2026 WNBA Draft takes place Monday, April 13, in New York City, and South Carolina is well-represented — with three Gamecocks expected to land in the first round.
Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Madina Okot have all received invitations to attend the draft in person, a distinction shared by only a handful of programs. South Carolina joins UCLA (five invitees) and TCU (two) as the only schools with multiple players on the invite list, with the Gamecocks claiming three spots.
A fourth Gamecock, Maryam Dauda, is draft-eligible but is not anticipated to be selected. Dauda has indicated she plans to pursue a career playing overseas.
A Program Built for the Pros
This draft continues a remarkable run for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has now produced 22 WNBA Draft selections overall, and since 2020, no program in the country has sent more players to the draft (12) or had more first-round picks (6). A former Gamecock has been chosen in nine of the last eleven drafts, including eleven first-round selections, two number-one overall picks, and five top-five picks.
Last season, 11 former Gamecocks appeared in WNBA games, headlined by league MVP A’ja Wilson and first-team All-WNBA honoree Allisha Gray. The 2025 draft saw Bree Hall, Te-Hina Paopao, and Sania Feagin all selected.
The Full Invite List
The 15 players invited to attend Monday’s draft in person are:
Nell Angloma (France), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Angela Dugalić (UCLA), Awa Fam (Spain), Azzi Fudd (UConn), Gabriela Jaquez (UCLA), Flau’jae Johnson (LSU), Raven Johnson (South Carolina), Gianna Kneepkens (UCLA), Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina), Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss), Olivia Miles (TCU), Madina Okot (South Carolina), Kiki Rice (UCLA), and Marta Suarez (TCU)
Gamecock Projections
Raven Johnson | Point Guard | 5’9″
Senior season averages: 9.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals
Analysts widely regard Johnson as a reliable, high-floor prospect whose value stems from her defensive intensity, court leadership, and three-point shooting. The two expansion franchises — Portland and Toronto — along with the Indiana Fever appear most frequently as projected destinations across mock drafts. A landing in Indiana would reunite her with former South Carolina teammate Aliyah Boston, as well as Tyasha Harris, who preceded her at point guard for the Gamecocks.
Mock Draft Roundup:
| Outlet | Pick | Team |
| The Athletic | #10 | Indiana Fever |
| Bleacher Report | #11 | Washington Mystics |
| CBS Sports | #6 | Toronto Tempo |
| ESPN | #10 | Indiana Fever |
| Fansided | #10 | Indiana Fever |
| NBC Sports | #9 | Washington Mystics |
| No Cap Space | #5 | Chicago Sky |
| SB Nation | #6 | Toronto Tempo |
| Sports Illustrated | #9 | Washington Mystics |
| The Sporting News | #7 | Portland Fire |
| USA Today | #9 | Washington Mystics |
Ta’Niya Latson | Guard | 5’9″
Senior season averages: 14.1 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals
Latson’s willingness to accept a reduced role during her time at South Carolina drew considerable praise from scouts, who also noted meaningful improvement in her defensive effort. She demonstrated the ability to thrive within a professional-style system while retaining her elite skill of attacking the basket at will. Golden State and Indiana are among her most frequently predicted destinations, with Portland also a common projection — potentially as a top pick expected to shoulder scoring duties from day one.
Madina Okot | Post | 6’6″
Senior season averages: 12.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.0 assists
At 6’6″, Okot brings an imposing presence in the paint, and her combination of size, rebounding, and an emerging perimeter game has generated genuine first-round buzz. Scouts view her relative lack of experience as a double-edged factor — it signals significant untapped upside, but also introduces enough uncertainty to push her toward the tail end of the first round rather than higher up the board.
The Connecticut Sun and Atlanta Dream surface most consistently across projections as her likeliest landing spots, and both represent logical fits. In Connecticut, she would have the opportunity to develop alongside Brittney Griner, one of the most accomplished post players in league history. In Atlanta, she could step into a more immediate role as Griner’s long-term successor in a system that figures to reward her ability to stretch the floor from the post with three-point shooting.
This section is part of the broader South Carolina 2026 WNBA Draft preview. See above for projections on Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson.
