Gamecocks Make Their Mark as WNBA Launches 29th Season with Nine Former Players
As the WNBA kicks off its 29th season, South Carolina women’s basketball continues to make a powerful impact at the professional level. Nine former Gamecocks secured spots on opening day rosters, a testament to the elite program built by head coach Dawn Staley in Columbia.
South Carolina ranks third among NCAA programs with the most players in the league, trailing only UConn (15) and Notre Dame (12). But when it comes to recent development, the Gamecocks lead the pack. Over the past five seasons, no school has sent more talent to the WNBA than South Carolina, with six players entering the league in that span—outpacing UConn and Baylor, who each produced four. The SEC as a whole boasts 29 former players across WNBA rosters, and South Carolina is leading that charge.
Meet the Gamecocks Representing in the WNBA (2025):
Tiffany Mitchell — Guard, Las Vegas Aces
Now in her 10th WNBA season, Mitchell is the most experienced Gamecock in the league. Reuniting with fellow South Carolina alum and WNBA superstar A’ja Wilson, the pair brings championship pedigree to Las Vegas, where they once helped the Gamecocks reach their first Final Four.
A’ja Wilson — Center, Las Vegas Aces
A defining figure in women’s basketball, Wilson’s résumé speaks volumes: three-time WNBA MVP, two-time champion, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Star, and 2018 Rookie of the Year. She was also South Carolina’s first-ever No. 1 overall WNBA Draft pick.
Allisha Gray — Guard, Atlanta Dream
Gray enters her ninth season in the league and third with the Dream. A former Rookie of the Year and a cornerstone of South Carolina’s 2017 national championship, she’ll now team up with rookie Te-Hina Paopao in Atlanta.
Te-Hina Paopao — Guard, Atlanta Dream
Selected 18th overall in the 2025 Draft, Paopao joins the Dream after leading South Carolina to back-to-back national championship appearances. A sharpshooter with All-American honors and the nation’s top three-point percentage, she begins her WNBA journey alongside Gray.
Tyasha Harris — Guard, Dallas Wings
Back with the team that drafted her in 2020, Harris is in her sixth pro season. A member of the Gamecocks’ 2017 title team and a former All-American, she made an immediate impact in the league as a WNBA All-Rookie selection.
Aliyah Boston — Forward, Indiana Fever
After earning 2023 Rookie of the Year honors and two All-Star selections, Boston is quickly becoming one of the WNBA’s brightest stars. The 2022 National Player of the Year and South Carolina’s second No. 1 overall pick, she helped bring a second title to Columbia.
Zia Cooke — Guard, Seattle Storm
Cooke heads into her third WNBA season, now with the Seattle Storm after two years with Los Angeles. A key figure in South Carolina’s 2022 national championship and three Final Four runs, she brings energy and experience to the Pacific Northwest.
Kamilla Cardoso — Center, Chicago Sky
A standout rookie in 2024 and the No. 3 overall pick, Cardoso returns for her second season with the Sky. She was instrumental in South Carolina’s 2024 undefeated championship run and continues to grow into a dominant force in the paint.
Sania Feagin — Forward, Los Angeles Sparks
One of two Gamecock rookies this year, Feagin was selected 21st overall in the 2025 Draft. Known for her defensive presence, she helped deliver two national titles during her time in Columbia and consistently anchored the team in deep postseason runs.
South Carolina’s presence across the WNBA is not just impressive—it’s defining. Under Dawn Staley’s leadership, the Gamecocks have become a premier pipeline for elite professional talent, and their dominance continues to be felt as the 2025 season begins.
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