Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson return to South Carolina next season with something to prove. They fell short in their bid to win back-to-back NCAA titles last season after the UConn Huskies beat the Gamecocks in the national championship game.
Returning to the mountaintop won’t be easy for South Carolina, as other SEC teams have also reloaded for the upcoming season. Despite the challenges LSU and Texas will present, here are three reasons why the Gamecocks can find SEC glory in the 2025-26 NCAA campaign.
3 Reasons Why Chloe Kitts’ South Carolina Can Find SEC Glory in 2025-26 NCAA Season
1. Dawn Staley Is Still South Carolina’s Head Coach
As long as Dawn Staley is South Carolina’s head coach, the Gamecocks will feel confident about their chances of reigning supreme in the SEC again. Since she took over as coach in 2008, the Gamecocks have won nine SEC regular-season championships and nine SEC Tournament titles.
They have pulled off the double seven times under Staley’s watch, winning the regular-season title and the SEC Tournament in the same year in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The Gamecocks faced a new challenge in the SEC last season as the conference expanded to 16 teams, with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas. The Longhorns gave the Gamecocks a run for their money in their first year in the SEC, claiming a share of the regular-season title with South Carolina after they finished with similar 15-1 records.
Head Coach Dawn Staley celebrating with her team after winning South Carolina’s 9th SEC Tournament Championship since 2015@GamecockWBB | @wachfox pic.twitter.com/WRCYw9Xlws
— Claire Foley (@clairefoleytv) March 9, 2025
The two teams faced each other again in the final of the 2025 SEC Tournament. South Carolina showed its championship experience, beating Texas 64-45 to win its third consecutive SEC Tournament.
When it comes to playing big games in the SEC, Staley’s experience will come in handy next season when the Gamecocks defend their conference titles.
2. Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson Lead South Carolina’s Returning Crew
It isn’t just Dawn Staley who has lots of championship experience at South Carolina. The Gamecocks also have several players on their 2025-26 roster who have been part of the SEC-winning teams in the last three years.
Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson lead the list of returning players for South Carolina, which also includes incoming sophomore Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, Ashlyn Watkins, Maddy McDaniel, Maryam Dauda, and Sakima Walker.
Kitts made waves in the 2025 SEC Tournament, winning the event’s Most Valuable Player award. She averaged 16.7 points, 7.7 boards, 3.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in South Carolina’s wins over Vanderbilt, Oklahoma, and Texas.
3. South Carolina Bolsters Lineup With Key Additions Through Transfer Portal and Freshman Class
The South Carolina Gamecocks have a deep lineup despite the departures of key players, such as Bree Hall, Te-Hina Paopao, Sania Feagin, and MiLaysia Fulwiley. They strengthened their squad through the transfer portal, adding Ta-Niya Latson from Florida State and Madina Okot from Mississippi State.
Latson led the nation in scoring last season, averaging 25.2 points per contest. She made history for Florida State in the 2024-25 campaign, becoming just the third ACC player to score at least 2,000 points in her first three seasons. Meanwhile, Okot posted impressive numbers for Mississippi State last season, averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 9.6 boards per contest.
The Gamecocks also have a talented freshman class for the 2025-26 season. Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer recently participated in the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup. McDowell dazzled for Brazil, averaging 16.8 points, 4.5 boards, 2.7 steals, and 1.5 dimes in the tournament.
KEEP READING: ‘Got the Dub Today’: Dawn Staley Boldly Gloats About Future South Carolina Star in Agot Makeer
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