Freshman Joyce Edwards delivered a breakout performance on the biggest stage, helping South Carolina surge past Texas in the Final Four. The $626,000 NIL star posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and dished out six assists in the 74–57 win. Her dominance sparked reactions from teammates in awe of her grit and impact.
After a close battle in the first half, South Carolina pulled away in the third quarter to seal the win and punch its ticket to Sunday’s national championship game (3 p.m. ET, ABC). The Gamecocks will face UConn and Paige Bueckers, who led a commanding 85–51 rout of No. 1 seed UCLA.
Freshman Star Joyce Edwards Shines in Final Four as Gamecocks Advance to NCAA Title Game
During a critical 11-0 third-quarter run Friday night, South Carolina freshman Edwards grabbed a rebound and charged down the court at Amalie Arena. Navigating through defenders confidently, Edwards finished the coast-to-coast sequence with a strong layup that extended the Gamecocks’ lead over Texas to 13. Her teammates could only watch in awe.
“Man, I kind of just started watching like my teammates be watching me, honestly,” said MiLaysia Fulwiley. “It felt like a movie.”
Edwards, who had averaged just five points over the last three tournament games, broke out of her slump in the Final Four, delivering 13 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists in South Carolina’s 74–57 win. Her physicality and poise earned high praise from her teammates.
“We tell Joyce we need her. We need that spark coming off the bench,” said Raven Johnson. “Double team or not, she’s a dog. Get a bucket. She can get a bucket at any time.”
Chloe Kitts echoed the support:
“We were all just trying to support her. We’re just so proud of her, and hopefully, she’ll be able to play like that next game.”
Despite recent struggles, Edwards stayed committed behind the scenes. Adhel Tac described her as a student of the game who constantly watched films and sought advice. Johnson encouraged her to trust the process.
“A’ja Wilson went through it. Kamilla Cardoso went through it. Aliyah Boston went through it,” Johnson said. “She just got to believe in herself.”
Head coach Dawn Staley applauded Edwards’ dedication.
“She works at it. She watches films. She’s obsessively working out,” Staley said. “So you want people like that to enjoy the fruits of their labor.”
Staley guided her through the mental hurdles, helping her release self-imposed pressure and find clarity.
“You’re like, ‘I want to perform so well,’ that it works against you,” said Staley. “So you get them to talk and release everything holding them down, and it frees them up.”
KEEP READING: Paige Bueckers to UConn Teammates: ‘We’re Not Done Yet’ After Punching Ticket to National Championship vs. South Carolina
With her confidence restored, Edwards will be a key factor as the Gamecocks prepare to face UConn in Sunday’s NCAA championship.
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