Dawn Staley is no stranger to sending great players to the WNBA. In the last ten years, A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, Kamilla Cardoso, Allisha Gray, Tiffany Mitchell, and Ty Harris, among others, have all come out of her program.
South Carolina players are also expected to be featured in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft. Ta’Niya Latson is widely mocked to go sixth overall to one of the expansion teams, but could also play her way into the lottery. ESPN’s Michael Voepel also mocked Madina Okot to go in the first round in mid-October, and Staley recently made the case for Raven Johnson as a first-round pick.
Latson is the most interesting draft prospect in that group. Last season, she was the leading scorer in the country, averaging 25.2 points per game for Florida State, and established herself as a top draft prospect. Transferring to South Carolina allowed her to join a more competitive program and play for a coach who regularly prepares players well for the next level. According to Dawn Staley, the move has already paid off.
“In just the short time that she’s been with us, I think, she’s increased her chances of being a pro because of what she’s doing on the defensive side of the ball,” Staley said after her team’s 106-56 win over Winthrop. “She’s really guarding. And then, she’s very very efficient with us. She’s shooting over 50% from the floor. That’s what teams are looking for. They actually know what she can do. It is, can she play with other players?”
Ta’Niya Latson is off to a good start with the Gamecocks
Ta’Niya Latson may not be putting together the kind of 30-point games she had last season, but she is still off to a tremendous start with the Gamecocks. She is averaging 17 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while shooting over 40% from the floor in all of her first five games.
Coming to South Carolina was a big change for Latson. At Florida State, Latson was the team’s main star alongside Makayla Timpson. South Carolina is a much deeper team with Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, and Madina Okot leading the charge as well. Latson had to figure out how to fit into that system and contribute while not always being the focal point of everything that’s happening on the court.
So far, Latson has met the challenge. She is scoring efficiently, meaning that she doesn’t need the ball in her hand all the time to put up numbers, grabbing rebounds, and dishing out assists while also competing on the defensive end.
Latson is part of a stacked draft class
The WNBA has experienced an influx of great young talent in recent years. The 2026 WNBA Draft class will only add to that. It is stacked with so much talent that there isn’t even a clear number one pick yet.
Lauren Betts or Awa Fam will likely go first if the Wings have the top pick. If the Lynx win the lottery, Olivia Miles could also end up being the top pick. Or, if Azzi Fudd or Flau’jae Johnson have incredible senior seasons, the top of the draft could change completely. Latson could also play her way into the lottery with a strong senior season at South Carolina.
There’s also strong talent beyond the top six, like UCLA guards Giannis Kneepkens and Kiki Rice, or Spanish point guard Iyana Martín Carrión.