Examining South Carolina's Ties To Phoenix

South Carolina has an elite program, as head coach Dawn Staley has led the team to three NCAA championships. Some of the league's top players played under her, as Allisha Gray, A'ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston all attended South Carolina. The Gamecocks have had 22 players in the WNBA, and some of them are tied to the Phoenix Mercury. South Carolina's history with the WNBA began in 1999, as Shannon Johnson joined the Orlando Magic. She was one of the players they received through allocation. She had some good years with the team, and she became a five-time All-Star. Her success paved the way for South Carolina players, and more began to enter the league. There were some gaps during that time, as Shaunzinski Gortman was drafted three years after Johnson. Then, two South Carolina players were drafted in 2003, and a Gamecock was not drafted again until 2016. It was Tiffany Mitchell, and once she was drafted, two players were selected the following year. Gray was the fourth pick of the 2017 draft, and a few picks la