Edwards, Latson honored by SEC Coaches

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Joyce Edwards and senior Ta’Niya Latson earned Preseason All-SEC First-Team honors from the league’s coaches, the conference office announced today. It marks the first time since 2022-23 season that they have tapped two Gamecocks for the preseason first team. The group picked the four-time reigning champion Gamecocks to finish second in the league this season.

Edwards was the Gamecocks’ top scorer last season at 12.7 points per game and third in rebounding at 5.0 per outing. Her consistent production in her first season yielded All-SEC First-Team and All-America honorable mention honors. Her 57.2 percent field goal shooting ranked second in the SEC, and she set the program’s record for free throw percentage by a freshman (.777). Edwards earned a spot on the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team behind her 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game in the last weekend of the season.

Latson was named an AP Preseason All-American earlier this week ahead of her first season at South Carolina. She was last season’s national scoring leader at 25.2 points per game, leading Florida State to the NCAA Tournament second round en route to AP Second-Team All-America honors. The three-time All-ACC First Team selection is a career 44.8 percent shooter with a career scoring average of 22.5 points after scoring in double figures in 86 of her 93 career games, including 62 20-point outings. Her three-year resume features five double-doubles, including a triple-double, and 68 games leading the Seminoles in scoring.

South Carolina won the last four SEC regular-season titles, sharing the crown last season with Texas. Head coach Dawn Staley returns seven letterwinners, including two starters from last season’s NCAA Runner-Up team, although the announcement of Chloe Kitts’ injury earlier today lowers those numbers. In addition to Edwards and Latson, South Carolina will be led by veteran point guard Raven Johnson, who is among the program’s top 10 in career assists. Junior guard Tessa Johnson looks to make another step up after her career-high 8.4 points per game last season, which included 43.0 percent accuracy from 3-point range. From the transfer portal, Staley also added senior center Madina Okot, who led the SEC in field goal percentage (.649) and ranked fourth in rebounding (9.6 rpg). A pair of top-15 freshmen bolster the Gamecocks’ backcourt with the signings of Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell – both McDonald’s All-Americans.

South Carolina unofficially opens the 2025-26 season with an exhibition against Anderson on Fri., Oct. 24. Admission to Colonial Life Arena is free with tipoff set for 7 p.m.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the program.

2025-26 SEC Coaches Preseason Poll
Order of Finish
1. Texas
2. South Carolina
3. LSU
4. Oklahoma
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Kentucky
8. Vanderbilt
9. Alabama
10. Florida
11. Georgia
12. Mississippi State
13. Texas A&M
14. Missouri
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas

Preseason Player of the Year
Madison Booker, Texas

Preseason All-SEC First Team
Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Madison Booker, Texas
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt

Preseason All-SEC Second Team
Essence Cody, Alabama
Liv McGill, Florida
Teonni Key, Kentucky
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Rori Harmon, Texas