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South Carolina women's basketball: Australian forward names the Gamecocks a finalist

On3 imageby: Chris Wellbaum08/31/25ChrisWellbaum
South Carolina Gamecocks mascot Cocky during the second half against the LSU Lady Tigers at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
South Carolina Gamecocks mascot Cocky during the second half against the LSU Lady Tigers at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Coveted 2026 Australian wing Sitaya Fagan has named South Carolina as one of her finalists.

Along with the Gamecocks, Fagan is still considering Texas and Southern Cal. She made the announcement on social media at around 3:00 am EDT, or 5:00 pm local time, on August 31.

Fagan plans to travel to the United States to visit all three schools in late September. She expects to make her decision before the November early signing period.

Fagan is considered the most heavily recruited Australian player ever. She held scholarship offers from 26 different NCAA programs, the most ever received by an Australian player. 

Fagan first turned heads at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Mexico. This summer, she helped lead Australia to a silver medal at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno. 

She averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds during the tournament. Dawn Staley was in Czechia to support Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell, as well as scout Fagan, who already had a Gamecock offer.

Louisville was the first program to offer Fagan, but others soon followed. Australian players don’t necessarily use the NCAA as a stepping stone to the WNBA, but the interest from major programs, along with the chance to get a college degree, led Fagan to decide to go the college route.

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Because she is Australian, Fagan is not ranked by Rivals or ESPN.

Fagan traveled to the United States in 2024 with Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence, the highest level of what we would consider prep basketball. She is listed anywhere from 6-2 to 6-4 and is an elite defender and superb athlete. 

“I actually prefer playing defence than offense sometimes,” Fagan told basketball.com.au. “In my earliest stages, I was like ‘no, I want to score, I want to drop 20,’ but moving on, you learn that defence wins games.”

South Carolina has never had an Australian player.

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