Top College Basketball Transfer Makes Admission Before First Season With Dawn Staley

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jul 2, 2025 3:26 PM ET

Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks are preparing for another college basketball season as they aim for a sixth straight trip to the NCAA tournament Final Four.

Last season, the Gamecocks reached the title game but were beaten by Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies. They came up one win short of claiming back-to-back national titles.

During the offseason, Staley and her staff have been busy reloading the roster — adding and losing players, as is now routine in the college basketball landscape.

One of the top transfers in women’s college basketball, Ta'Niya Latson, made the move to South Carolina from Florida State. Known for her explosive scoring, she is expected to bring firepower to the team's offense. Although Latson wasn’t part of the team last season, she admitted to feeling connected to their loss in the finals.

"Even though I'm a transfer, I still feel that loss for them. This is like my family now." Although transfer Ta’Niya Latson wasn't a part of@GamecockWBB
's national championship loss last season, she's motivated USC returns to win it all this season.@abc_columbia - #Gamecock pic.twitter.com/KPDl5gHN87
— Chaz R Frazier (@Chazf_tv) July 1, 2025

Latson spoke to the media about joining the Gamecocks and how last season’s finish impacted her.

“We’re talking about it. I mean, it’s around, and I feel like the girls are taking it personal,” Latson said. “Even though I’m a transfer, I still feel that loss for them, you know, because this is my family now.”

She added her goal for the upcoming season.

“So just getting back to championship is going to be really important.”

Latson arrives with an impressive resume. She spent three seasons at Florida State, starting all 93 games. She averaged 22.5 points per game for her career and posted 25.2 points per game as a senior. That performance earned her second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

South Carolina has won 35 or more games in each of the last four seasons. Staley holds a 475-110 career record with the Gamecocks, including a 214-57 mark in SEC play.

With Latson’s arrival, expectations are once again high in Columbia.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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