After a perfect 38-0 campaign that resulted in another national championship, the South Carolina Gamecocks will start the 2024-25 women’s college basketball season as the No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 poll. However, they were not a unanimous No. 1 as UConn and USC also got first-place votes.
One of the Gamecocks’ strengths last season was depth, and they still have a lot of that as South Carolina returns all key pieces except for Kamilla Cardoso. MiLaysia Fulwiley, who coach Dawn Staley refers to as a walking highlight reel, has been working on slowing down her game and could be earning a spot as a starter. Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson are two other Gamecocks who played significant roles last season, and Staley said others like Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin used the offseason to take their game to the next level.
The biggest question for South Carolina is Ashlyn Watkins, who has been suspended from team activities since she was charged with first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping in late August.
Meanwhile, UConn is still dealing with injury woes, but Geno Auriemma’s Huskies have enough talent to take the No. 2 spot and even earned two first-place votes. Azzi Fudd (torn ACL), Caroline Ducharme…
