South Carolina women's basketball: What does Sakima Walker's return mean for the Gamecocks?
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Sakima Walker announced on social media Tuesday that she will return to South Carolina next season. What does her return mean for the Gamecocks?
Walker began her career at Rutgers, where she played for two seasons. After a junior college season, where she was named national player of the year and won the juco national championship, Walker joined South Carolina for her senior season.
Because her freshman season at Rutgers was during the Covid pandemic, Walker, who graduated in May, had an optional extra year of eligibility remaining.
Walker appeared in 31 games last season with one start (against Morgan State). She averaged 2.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and had 12 blocks and eight steals. Walker scored in double figures twice and had six rebounds against Clemson.
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Walker committed to the Gamecocks thinking she would get significant playing time as the primary backup to Kamilla Cardoso. But as Chloe Kitts, Ahlyn Watkins, and Sania Feagin emerged as key contributors, the 6-6 Walker found herself playing limited minutes mostly in blowouts or because of foul trouble.
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Walker figured out another way to contribute. Dawn Staley described the locker room as a “daycare,” so Walker became the self-described “mom” of the group. She stayed ready when called upon, and was a voice of experience in the young locker room.
In the locker room after the national championship game, Walker was one of the first people Staley thanked. Walker didn’t get to play the role she expected, Staley said, but she maintained a team-first attitude and found a way to pivot and contribute in a different way.
That will be Walker’s role again next season. Cardoso has gone to the WNBA, but South Carolina has replaced her with Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda and redshirt freshman Adhel Tac, the second-ranked post in her class. South Carolina also adds forward Joyce Edwards, the national high school player of the year. Walker will be a mentor to that trio.
Walker’s return means South Carolina has used 13 of its 15 scholarships for 2024-25.
