The once-unshakeable fortress that is South Carolina women’s basketball is cracking, and the tremors are being felt across the college hoops world. In a stunning cascade of departures, one of the Gamecocks’ most explosive talents, MiLaysia Fulwiley, has entered the transfer portal—her exit confirming the growing unease within a program built on dominance. Known for her breathtaking athleticism and signature flair, Fulwiley’s walk-off isn’t just a roster move—it’s seismic. As SEC Sixth Woman of the Year and a local standout from Columbia, she was expected to rise. Yet, with high-scoring newcomer Ta’Niya Latson joining from Florida State, even Dawn Staley’s notoriously deep rotation couldn’t guarantee her the playing time she craved .
And if that wasn’t enough to send fans spiraling, the bombshell that followed soon made headlines: Fulwiley has opted for LSU. In one swift move, she traded garnet for purple and gold—“Geaux Tigers”—and altered the SEC backcourt hierarchy overnight. Her Instagram announcement had jaws dropping, signaling a bold leap to Kim Mulkey’s program and perhaps a clearer path to stardom .
The dominoes didn’t stop there. Veteran guard Te-Hina Paopao—the steady hand, the sharpshooter, the on-court glue—has also departed, delivering another gut punch to Team Staley. Her choice adds a throb of déjà vu to this offseason storyline: another leader choosing a fresh chapter, and another gap left dangerously unfilled .
It’s a shocking unraveling. Twobackcourt linchpins gone; the cornerstone of their rotation evaporating; fans left reeling as the fortress feels vulnerable.
But in the middle of this chaos, a new wave of reinforcements emerges, almost cinematic in scope. The Gamecocks have landed Ta’Niya Latson, a scoring machine and national name, plus towering Kenyan center Madina Okot—6’6″ emerging force—from Mississippi State . While losses stung, the program’s ability to refresh, recalibrate, and retool remains evident. Indeed, many analysts still peg South Carolina as a winner in the transfer portal procession—so long as Staley’s reputation for building dynasties continues to resonate .
For fans still grasping the headlines, here’s the crisp breakdown:
MiLaysia Fulwiley, the electric spark off the bench, exits via transfer portal—hurting on-court options and offensive versatility .
She then commits to LSU, shaking up conference dynamics and delivering arguably the most sonic transfer of the offseason so far .
Te-Hina Paopao, silencing critics with leadership and clutch shooting, also departs—an equally monumental blow .
South Carolina responds, securing top-tier additions like Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot, signaling readiness to reload .
It all comes down to this: the Gamecocks are standing at a crossroads. Can they absorb heartbreak, reset identity, and still chase championships among all the confusion? Or has an unstoppable dynasty hit its greatest unintended hurdle yet?
One thing’s for certain: the shockwaves are just beginning.
