South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has the unenviable task of replacing the dominant Kamilla Cardoso as the Gamecocks chase back-to-back national championships.
No. 1 South Carolina begins its season on Monday with a visit to Ann Arbour to take on Michigan, hoping to continue the incredible form of a historic 39-0 2023/24 season, which culminated in a victory over Caitlin Clark’s Iowa in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
Cardoso, who was selected third overall by the Chicago Sky in April’s WNBA Draft, was a pivotal player in the Gamecocks’ championship run. Averaging 10 points and eight rebounds per game and offering a dominant presence in the post.
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A glance at the Gamecocks’ roster for the new season shows no obvious replacement. Staley has belief in her players, but she indicated her team will operate a committee system at center to offer a diverse range of threats to the opposition.
“We don’t have a dominant big, right? We’ve had a dominant big for the last ten years,” Staley said. “Now we don’t. But we do have a collection of bigs who do things a lot differently than each other.
“I think Joyce [Edwards] can rebound. She actually is an aggressive rebounder. I do think she has a little bit of go-get-you-a-bucket, too…I mean, she is probably well ahead of where I thought she could be.
Freshman talent Joyce Edwards (left) is set to have a big role with the Gamecocks (
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
“I think [Sania] Feagin has the experience. Chloe [Kitts] has gotten better. Like, Chloe can go get you a bucket in any type of way… midrange, then you put her on the block, and she’s pretty savvy with her footwork. Chloe has been outstanding [and] Feagin has improved, as well.”
Women’s college basketball will have a very different look and feel as the new season begins with flag bearers Clark and Angel Reese among the many star talents who have moved to the professional ranks. But Staley is bullish about the health of the sport at the collegiate level.
“I know we lost some great ones in Angel and Caitlin, but we gained so much more,” she said. “We gained so much more talent, skill set and marketability.
“I’m really looking forward to it. I’m glad it’s happened during a time in which I can attest to it, I can share with other people who are just now tuning in.”
The Gamecocks are strong favorites with the oddsmakers to lift the national title again, although they are set to face stiff competition from UConn and USC. Texas and Notre Dame are also expected to have strong seasons.
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