Guard Ta'Niya Latson. Cory Knowlton-Imagn Images

Dawn Staley, South Carolina get key addition from transfer portal

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Apr 9, 2025 1:00 PM ET

Just two days after falling to UConn in the national championship game, Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks hit the transfer portal in a big way.

The nation's leading scorer, Ta'Niya Latson, from Florida State announced that she would be spending the 2025-26 season with the Gamecocks in a post from her X account.

Breaking: Ta'Niya Latson, the leading scorer in D-I last season, is transferring to South Carolina, she announced on social media. pic.twitter.com/g4M1Yqvsyj
— ESPN (@espn) April 8, 2025

Latson averaged 25.2 points per game on an efficient 45.1 percent shooting from the field. She was the main reason that Florida State was able to go into the women's tournament as a No. 6 seed.

Latson was held under 10 points just two times, under 15 points just four times and under 20 points only four times. Her season high was 40 points.

The 40-point effort came in the opening game of ACC play against Virginia Tech and closed a five-game stretch in which Latson scored 38, 39, 32, eight and 40.

She is a premier scorer and will instantly become the star player for the Gamecocks.

The Ta'Niya Latson show

The nation's leading scorer, @NiyaLatson, led Florida State to a 86-81 win over No. 3 Notre Dame with 23 points while adding 9 assists and 5 rebounds@fsuwbb | @Seminoles | #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/S9ZkB5RZX3
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) February 28, 2025

Along with Latson's commitment to South Carolina, point guard Raven Johnson also decided to return to the Gamecocks for the 2025-26 season.

An interesting thing of note regarding Johnson's decision, she and Latson were high school teammates and will now reunite for a season together at the collegiate level.

With those two huge additions to next season's roster, the Gamecocks should certainly be the favorites to win the 2026 national championship.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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