South Carolina is coming into the 2025-2026 WBB season as one of the big favorites to win it all in April next year, and they are starting off with a stacked roster. Much like any year, they are also welcoming a fresh crop of freshman stars, including a few five-star recruits from the Class of 2025, as well as new transferees. The school’s WBB Instagram page has now revealed which jersey numbers these “New Birdies” will be wearing.
Transferee Ta’Niya Latson, who is expected to be a starting guard this year, will be wearing 00, which she also wore during her three years at Florida State. Meanwhile, Madina Okot, another transferee, will be wearing No. 11. She previously wore No. 15 when she was still at Mississippi State last season.
Five-star Brazilian star Ayla McDowell will be wearing No. 24, which is what she wears for her AAU team, but she did wear No. 2 for her school, Cypress Springs, and No. 5 for the Brazilian National Team. Five-star Canadian freshman Agot Makeer, on the other hand, is wearing No. 11. She wore No. 1 at her old school, Crestwood Prep and the Canadian National Team, and then No. 11 for Montverde Academy.
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Latson is seen to replace MiLaysia Fulwiley, who surprised many when she transferred to LSU, while Okot will be seen as a force in the paint for Dawn Staley‘s squad. Meanwhile, freshmen McDowell and Makeer are seen to be scorers, with Makeer as a wing and McDowell as a shooting guard.
Dawn Staley To Test Her ‘New Birdies’ in Preseason Game Vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
As for the “new birdies” themselves, Latson, Okot, Makeer and McDowell will be tested in a battle between the Carolinas, as Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks will be taking on Courtney Banghart and the North Carolina Tar Heels during a preseason game on Oct. 30.
Banghart has led the Tar Heels, which is known more for men’s basketball than women’s, to the Sweet 16 last year and are showing much improvement, especially with second-team All-ACC honoree Reniya Kelly and ACC-All Freshman Team member Lanie Grant leading the charge.
Meanwhile, South Carolina will have plenty of veterans familiar with Dawn Staley’s playstyle, including the dynamic duo of Tessa Johnson and Chloe Kitts, as well as Joyce Edwards, who is largely seen as the team’s top star coming into the new season.
Related:
‘Lay Me’: Dawn Staley Hypes Up Former South Carolina Player Turned WNBA Star Bree Hall
‘She Has Touched Me With Her Spirit’ – Dawn Staley Gets Emotional as Young Fan Rings Cancer Bell
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