Coach Staley lands the NCAA's leading scorer from the portal

[Gradstudent]

Raven's good friend joins the Gamecocks! Dawn is not messing around!

https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fast...aa-leading-scorer-ta-niya-latson-01jrb7f8de2a

South Carolina Scores Transfer of NCAA Leading Scorer Ta'Niya Latson​

Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks just acquired the NCAA's leading scorer in the transfer portal.

Grant Young | 25 Minutes Ago​

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley during the NCAA semi-final game against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, Friday April 4, 2025. / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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On March 27, news broke that Florida State Seminoles superstar Ta'Niya Latson (who was the NCAA women's basketball leading scorer during the 2024-25 regular season, averaging 25.2 points per game while shooting 45.1% from the field) had entered the transfer portal.

One of the most immediate reactions is that Latson would be a fit with the 2025 NCAA runner-up South Carolina Gamecocks, given that she has a history playing with several members of that team.

Gamecocks standout Raven Johnson conveyed her interest in bringing Latson to her team when speaking with the media on March 27 by saying, "I'd tell her let's run it back... She knows what a winning culture feels like, she knows what a disciplined basketball team feels like. She knows all that stuff.

"I'm definitely trying to get her to come here. I'm in her ear, I'm definitely in her ear. So I would be happy. We all would be happy to play with her," Johnson added.
It appears that Johnson's sentiment to Latson was successful, as the former Florida State star made an April 8 post to her Instagram that was a graphic wearing a Gamecocks uniform with the caption, "Feelin’ cocky! ".

This is a massive addition for Dawn Staley's squad, as their defeat to the UConn Huskies in the 2025 NCAA championship game on Sunday conveyed that they needed more players who could create their own offense. And few players in college basketball are better at creating their own offense than Latson, which is why this is such a massive move.

This addition will have Gamecocks fans even more excited for next season than they already were.

​

 

[BftCocks09]

If you can get the nation's leading scorer, obviously you take it, but we've got to get a big from the portal right?

 

[Evilchicken]

If you can get the nation's leading scorer, obviously you take it, but we've got to get a big from the portal right?

Yes, from what I’m reading Dawn is after a big too.

 

[BftCocks09]

Yes, from what I’m reading Dawn is after a big too.

I would hope it's a big who has some proven experience and not just a big body. Otherwise, we will just be seeing the same thing we watched this year. Watkins should be back which will be a great defensive presence, but even she doesn't have the girth a height to be a dominant post scorer. I suppose it's a good place to be if we look at losing in the national championship as a disappointment. However, it is indeed still a disappointment nonetheless.

 

[Evilchicken]

I would hope it's a big who has some proven experience and not just a big body. Otherwise, we will just be seeing the same thing we watched this year. Watkins should be back which will be a great defensive presence, but even she doesn't have the girth a height to be a dominant post scorer. I suppose it's a good place to be if we look at losing in the national championship as a disappointment. However, it is indeed still a disappointment nonetheless.

No big names in the portal yet at the Center position. Hmmm

 

[adcoop]

No big names in the portal yet at the Center position. Hmmm

Kate Koval is in the portal. We recruited her hard a couple years ago.

 

[Evilchicken]

Kate Koval is in the portal. We recruited her hard a couple years ago.

I’m reading that she massively underperformed and is a project

 

[adcoop]

I’m reading that she massively underperformed and is a project

She averaged 5 and 5, but ND was a guard oriented team and the guards took most of the shots. I think Hannah Hidalgo hogging the ball (along with other things that had nothing to do with basketball) were the reasons why Olivia Miles left too. Koval is big and, from what I saw, is coachable and can develop. Sort of like a Center version of Chloe. Chloe did even less her freshman year with us.

 

[Gradstudent]

Kate Koval is in the portal. We recruited her hard a couple years ago.

Not anymore, Kate Koval is going to LSU, Koval started 10 games for the Irish last year, the player that I think started in front of her is still in the portal, Kylee Watson.

 

[adcoop]

Not anymore, Kate Koval is going to LSU, Koval started 10 games for the Irish last year, the player that I think started in front of her is still in the portal, Kylee Watson.

Like I said before, LSU is a wildcard with that portal. Just slinging around cash. I think it is a slight downgrade from the Smith girl that they lost.

 

[Gradstudent]

Like I said before, LSU is a wildcard with that portal. Just slinging around cash. I think it is a slight downgrade from the Smith girl that they lost.

Yes, good point, I think the Miss State 6-6 center is still out there and then portal is still open 3 more weeks so hopefully we find a center.

 

[Evilchicken]

Who wouldn’t want to be a center on this team? We literally need one.

 

[Anon1670041242]

Like I said before, LSU is a wildcard with that portal. Just slinging around cash. I think it is a slight downgrade from the Smith girl that they lost.

And they lost Del Rosario I think

 

[adcoop]

Who wouldn’t want to be a center on this team? We literally need one.

There really is not much out there at the post position. I would rather just develop from within over bring a body in just to have another body. Maybe beg Sarah Strong again? Just kidding.

 

[DeutschRock]

There really is not much out there at the post position. I would rather just develop from within over bring a body in just to have another body. Maybe beg Sarah Strong again? Just kidding.

Serah Williams.