USC Gamecocks - The Offseason 2025

[Gamecockfan77]

Was looking at my All Staley team again and have the following:

Ty Harris / Destanni Henderson
Tiffany Mitchell / Zia Cooke / Pao
Allisha Gray / Kaela Davis /
A'ja Wilson / Herbert-Harrigan / Aleigha Welch
Aliyah Boston / Kamilla Cardoso / Coates

Thoughts:

1) Pao has definitely worked herself onto to my top 13.
2) Kaela Davis i think is the best combination of stopper/offense. I'm not sure Beal or Hall quite has creds to be included.
3) that third PG spot is really up for grabs. Sutton and Walker and Raven are appealing in their own ways, but don't quite feel like omissions either.
4) putting Welch and Coates on even this squad makes me worry about court balance.
5) on a related point, Kitts is pretty close in my mind to passing Welch which I didn't know about myself.
6) Kelsey Bone and Te'a Cooper were not considered
7) Could Tessa make a leap to get on here?
8) Edwards probably be another to make a run at a F spot.
9) Latson could be a really interesting case
10). I was seriously tempted to take Feagin over Coates. I didn't really consider Amihere, all of which does not surprise me.

 

[GamecockFam]

Was looking at my All Staley team again and have the following:

Ty Harris / Destanni Henderson
Tiffany Mitchell / Zia Cooke / Pao
Allisha Gray / Kaela Davis /
A'ja Wilson / Herbert-Harrigan / Aleigha Welch
Aaliyah Boston / Kamilla Cardoso / Coates

Thoughts:

1) Pao has definitely worked herself onto to my top 13.
2) Kaela Davis i think is the best combination of stopper/offense. I'm not sure Beal or Hall quite has creds to be included.
3) that third PG spot is really up for grabs. Sutton and Walker and Raven are appealing in their own ways, but don't quite feel like omissions either.
4) putting Welch and Coates on even this squad makes me worry about court balance.
5) on a related point, Kitts is pretty close in my mind to passing Welch which I didn't know about myself.
6) Kelsey Bone and Te'a Cooper were not considered
7) Could Tessa make a leap to get on here?
8) Edwards probably be another to make a run at a F spot.
9) Latson could be a really interesting case
10). I was seriously tempted to take Feagin over Coates. I didn't really consider Amihere, all of which does not surprise me.

Those 5 starters would probably be one of the best starting 5 in the WNBA this season -- three All-WNBA caliber players (two on the MVP short list) with a competent PG. SG would be the weak link. Honestly Paopao may make a better starter than Tiff with that lineup -- her 3 point shot would help keep defenses from doubling Wilson or Boston.

 

[GamecockFam]

Also, don't sleep on Maddy Mouse. She has shown hints that she may be the best PG since Ty left the program.

 

[JDuro]

Was looking at my All Staley team again and have the following:

Ty Harris / Destanni Henderson
Tiffany Mitchell / Zia Cooke / Pao
Allisha Gray / Kaela Davis /
A'ja Wilson / Herbert-Harrigan / Aleigha Welch
Aliyah Boston / Kamilla Cardoso / Coates

Thoughts:

1) Pao has definitely worked herself onto to my top 13.
2) Kaela Davis i think is the best combination of stopper/offense. I'm not sure Beal or Hall quite has creds to be included.
3) that third PG spot is really up for grabs. Sutton and Walker and Raven are appealing in their own ways, but don't quite feel like omissions either.
4) putting Welch and Coates on even this squad makes me worry about court balance.
5) on a related point, Kitts is pretty close in my mind to passing Welch which I didn't know about myself.
6) Kelsey Bone and Te'a Cooper were not considered
7) Could Tessa make a leap to get on here?
8) Edwards probably be another to make a run at a F spot.
9) Latson could be a really interesting case
10). I was seriously tempted to take Feagin over Coates. I didn't really consider Amihere, all of which does not surprise me.

PG: Agree with Ty and Destanni
Honorable mentions to Khadijah Sessions and La’Keisha Sutton.

SG: Tiffany Mitchell, Cooke, Pao Pao
Cooke and TPP are neck and neck but I’ll give slight edge to Zia. Four very good seasons and part of one NC team and robbed of a possible second by COVID.
Tiff is a no brainer. She was phenomenal in her time at USC. As to Gamecock Fam’s point about 3 pt shooting, Mitchell was a very good shooter from the arc while at USC, particularly her first 3 seasons. Her numbers dipped her senior season, no doubt a result on the gym rat being laid up that off season after suffering a lower leg hairline fracture/surgery which I believe she suffered training for the Pan Am games. She got off to a slow start that season as a result. Here are her 3 pt numbers:

Wing: Allisha Gray, Brea Beal. (HM: Bree Hall)
Allisha another no brainer. Tremendous her one season. In light of current transfer rules, I’ll be forever pissed she had to sit out ‘15-‘16 and we didn’t get to see her share the court with Tiff. Hope her jersey gets retired.
Brea Beal makes my list. She was effective all 4 yrs she played as a starter, particularly on D. Hall makes my honorable mention for much the same reasons. Kaela is not on my list. She was mostly inconsistent her one season, finally showing up at the end, albeit in a very big way at the end after Alaina went down, to help win NC #1. She should have come back and played out her eligibility which she recently said she wishes she had.

Forward: A’ja, Aleighsa, Kiki
I give the edge to Lisa over Kiki. Lisa was very good all 4 yrs she played. Possibly the most intelligent and greatest leader to ever wear the G & B for Dawn. She was a great mentor for A’ja the one season they were together - probably for Alaina too. Kiki needed a couple seasons to become how good she became as an upperclassmen, though I recall her playing very well in the post season those first two years. I miss her fantastic mid range to the arc shooting ability tremendously. Joyce already very close to jumping on to this list in the spot behind AW.

Post: Boston, Cardoso, Coates
AB/KC - No brainers. I think we forget how great Alaina was her four years as a Gamecock. 12 and 8 as a frosh coming off the bench. Feagin is nowhere near this list for me with her one pretty good season as a starter with numbers that pale next to AC’s. In fact I would put Ashlyn over Sania.

 

[visitingcock]

Was looking at my All Staley team again and have the following:

Ty Harris / Destanni Henderson
Tiffany Mitchell / Zia Cooke / Pao
Allisha Gray / Kaela Davis /
A'ja Wilson / Herbert-Harrigan / Aleigha Welch
Aaliyah Boston / Kamilla Cardoso / Coates

Thoughts:

1) Pao has definitely worked herself onto to my top 13.
2) Kaela Davis i think is the best combination of stopper/offense. I'm not sure Beal or Hall quite has creds to be included.
3) that third PG spot is really up for grabs. Sutton and Walker and Raven are appealing in their own ways, but don't quite feel like omissions either.
4) putting Welch and Coates on even this squad makes me worry about court balance.
5) on a related point, Kitts is pretty close in my mind to passing Welch which I didn't know about myself.
6) Kelsey Bone and Te'a Cooper were not considered
7) Could Tessa make a leap to get on here?
8) Edwards probably be another to make a run at a F spot.
9) Latson could be a really interesting case
10). I was seriously tempted to take Feagin over Coates. I didn't really consider Amihere, all of which does not surprise me.

PG: Agree with Ty and Destanni
Honorable mentions to Khadijah Sessions and La’Keisha Sutton.

SG: Tiffany Mitchell, Cooke, Pao Pao
Cooke and TPP are neck and neck but I’ll give slight edge to Zia. Four very good seasons and part of one NC team and robbed of a possible second by COVID.
Tiff is a no brainer. She was phenomenal in her time at USC. As to Gamecock Fam’s point about 3 pt shooting, Mitchell was a very good shooter from the arc while at USC, particularly her first 3 seasons. Her numbers dipped her senior season, no doubt a result on the gym rat being laid up that off season after suffering a lower leg hairline fracture/surgery which I believe she suffered training for the Pan Am games. She got off to a slow start that season as a result. Here are her 3 pt numbers:
View attachment 111744

Wing: Allisha Gray, Brea Beal. (HM: Bree Hall)
Allisha another no brainer. Tremendous her one season. In light of current transfer rules, I’ll be forever pissed she had to sit out ‘15-‘16 and we didn’t get to see her share the court with Tiff. Hope her jersey gets retired.
Brea Beal makes my list. She was effective all 4 yrs she played as a starter, particularly on D. Hall makes my honorable mention for much the same reasons. Kaela is not on my list. She was mostly inconsistent her one season, finally showing up at the end, albeit in a very big way at the end after Alaina went down, to help win NC #1. She should have come back and played out her eligibility which she recently said she wishes she had.

Forward: A’ja, Aleighsa, Kiki
I give the edge to Lisa over Kiki. Lisa was very good all 4 yrs she played. Possibly the most intelligent and greatest leader to ever wear the G & B for Dawn. She was a great mentor for A’ja the one season they were together - probably for Alaina too. Kiki needed a couple seasons to become how good she became as an upperclassmen, though I recall her playing very well in the post season those first two years. I miss her fantastic mid range to the arc shooting ability tremendously. Joyce already very close to jumping on to this list in the spot behind AW.

Post: Boston, Cardoso, Coates
AB/KC - No brainers. I think we forget how great Alaina was her four years as a Gamecock. 12 and 8 as a frosh coming off the bench. Feagin is nowhere near this list for me with her one pretty good season as a starter with numbers that pale next to AC’s. In fact I would put Ashlyn over Sania.

I would put Chloe over Sania easily. In fact, Chloe is among the 15 regardless of position

 

[GamecockFam]

PG: Agree with Ty and Destanni
Honorable mentions to Khadijah Sessions and La’Keisha Sutton.

SG: Tiffany Mitchell, Cooke, Pao Pao
Cooke and TPP are neck and neck but I’ll give slight edge to Zia. Four very good seasons and part of one NC team and robbed of a possible second by COVID.
Tiff is a no brainer. She was phenomenal in her time at USC. As to Gamecock Fam’s point about 3 pt shooting, Mitchell was a very good shooter from the arc while at USC, particularly her first 3 seasons. Her numbers dipped her senior season, no doubt a result on the gym rat being laid up that off season after suffering a lower leg hairline fracture/surgery which I believe she suffered training for the Pan Am games. She got off to a slow start that season as a result. Here are her 3 pt numbers:
View attachment 111744

Wing: Allisha Gray, Brea Beal. (HM: Bree Hall)
Allisha another no brainer. Tremendous her one season. In light of current transfer rules, I’ll be forever pissed she had to sit out ‘15-‘16 and we didn’t get to see her share the court with Tiff. Hope her jersey gets retired.
Brea Beal makes my list. She was effective all 4 yrs she played as a starter, particularly on D. Hall makes my honorable mention for much the same reasons. Kaela is not on my list. She was mostly inconsistent her one season, finally showing up at the end, albeit in a very big way at the end after Alaina went down, to help win NC #1. She should have come back and played out her eligibility which she recently said she wishes she had.

Forward: A’ja, Aleighsa, Kiki
I give the edge to Lisa over Kiki. Lisa was very good all 4 yrs she played. Possibly the most intelligent and greatest leader to ever wear the G & B for Dawn. She was a great mentor for A’ja the one season they were together - probably for Alaina too. Kiki needed a couple seasons to become how good she became as an upperclassmen, though I recall her playing very well in the post season those first two years. I miss her fantastic mid range to the arc shooting ability tremendously. Joyce already very close to jumping on to this list in the spot behind AW.

Post: Boston, Cardoso, Coates
AB/KC - No brainers. I think we forget how great Alaina was her four years as a Gamecock. 12 and 8 as a frosh coming off the bench. Feagin is nowhere near this list for me with her one pretty good season as a starter with numbers that pale next to AC’s. In fact I would put Ashlyn over Sania.

Ha! My comment about Paopao was just about making a practical lineup in the WNBA today and had nothing to do with their career stats at USC.