South Carolina women's basketball puts five on preseason Wooden Award watch list top 50

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced 50 players for the preseason watch list for the 2025-2026 Wooden Award. Five South Carolina women’s basketball standouts made the cut.

Given annually to the top player in women’s college basketball, the Wooden Award will be announced following the conclusion of the season. For the Gamecocks, seniors Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, and Ta’Niya Latson, sophomore Joyce Edwards, and freshman Agot Makeer earned preseason nominations.

Kitts will miss the 2025-2026 season with a torn ACL. Her inclusion likely indicates an early voting for this list, as Kitts’ injury was announced shortly before the season began. She was an honorable mention All-American last year, according to multiple publications.

Johnson, now a redshirt senior in her fifth year with the program, has been a long-time starter at point guard for the Gamecocks. She was an All-SEC Defensive Team honoree last season and an All-SEC performer the year before.

The leading scorer in the country at Florida State, Latson transferred to South Carolina this offseason. She was an All-American and a three-time All-ACC selection for the Seminoles. She has earned a spot on virtually every relevant watch list this fall.

Edwards is leading the Gamecocks in scoring through the early portions of the season, as she looks to back up her honorable mention All-American selection from last season. Like Latson, she has been on virtually every preseason watch list for this year.

A true freshman, Makeer was a five-star prospect in the class of 2025. Her versatility and the Gamecocks’ lack of roster numbers will provide a lot of opportunities for her this season.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!

2025-26 Wooden Award Top 50 Watchlist:

Janiah Barker, Tennessee
Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Sienne Betts, UCLA
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Madison Booker, Texas
Zoe Brooks, NC State
Addy Brown, Iowa State
Jaloni Cambridge, Ohio State
Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Audi Crooks, Iowa State
Jazzy Davidson, Southern Cal
Addie Deal, Iowa
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Toby Fournier, Duke
Azzi Fudd, UConn
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Rori Harmon, Texas
Kayleigh Heckel, UConn
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Ashlon Jackson, Duke
Flau’jae Johnson, LSU
Kymora Johnson, Virginia
Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Reniya Kelly, North Carolina
Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Gianna Kneepkens, UCLA
Grace Knox, LSU
Kate Koval, LSU
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
Agot Makeer, South Carolina
Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
Olivia Miles, TCU
S’Mya Nicholls, Kansas
Olivia Olson, Michigan
Khamil Pierre, NC State
Gal Raviv, Miami
Kiki Rice, UCLA
Zee Spearman, Tennessee
Sarah Strong, UConn
Madison St. Rose Princeton
Hannah Stuelke, Iowa
Syla Swords, Michigan
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Serah Williams, UConn
Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
Laura Ziegler, Louisville

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball!