Dawn Staley is keeping a full schedule this spring as she turns her attention to summer preparations with the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Hall of Fame coach has been busy on the recruiting trail, exploring the transfer portal, and promoting her new book on tour.
As graduation season unfolds across the nation, many college basketball players are celebrating academic milestones—some preparing for one more season on the hardwood, while others look ahead to new chapters.
Over the weekend, Staley shared a heartfelt message congratulating two of her players who graduated on Saturday. One will return to South Carolina for another season, while the other is set to move on for the 2025–26 campaign.
“THE @GamecockWBB GRADUATES! Congrats to @HollywoodRaven @SakimaWalker for finishing the academic race…degree them! I love this part more than anyone will ever know,” Staley posted.
Raven Johnson and Sakima Walker both earned their undergraduate degrees this spring, marking major milestones on and off the court. Johnson will return for one final season with the South Carolina Gamecocks, while Walker is transferring to complete her college career with the California Golden Bears.
Johnson has been a key contributor to South Carolina’s recent dominance, playing a role in national championship runs in 2022 and 2024. Although a knee injury sidelined her for most of the 2021–22 season, she bounced back to appear in 114 games over her career, starting all 39 last season. A former Naismith Prep Player of the Year, Johnson made her name at Westlake High School in Atlanta before becoming a staple in Columbia.
Walker, who transferred to South Carolina following two seasons at Rutgers, brought depth to the roster over the past two years. She appeared in 46 games for the Gamecocks, including one start, and averaged 1.8 points per game during her time with the program.
As head coach Dawn Staley enters her 18th season leading the Gamecocks, South Carolina continues to set the standard in women’s college basketball. Under her guidance, the team has made five consecutive Final Four appearances and reached the national championship game three times.
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