Could South Carolina's reign over women's college basketball in this day and age be better than when UConn did it about ten years ago? It could be argued that head coach Dawn Staley is doing it at a time when it is so hard with NIL and the transfer portal. Either way, Staley continues to show her commitment to making South Carolina the best program year in and year out.
Staley announced that she has the first signee of her 2025 class, and it just so happens to be a five-star recruit from Cypress, Texas. Ayla McDowell announced that she will be joining the Gamecocks next season with four years of eligibility. Staley is as excited as she can be to get McDowell into her program and see how she can help the Gamecocks.
"Ayla is an elite wing who can score at all three levels and is a Swiss army knife on defense with the ability to guard every position," Staley said in her press conference announcing the recruit.
FAMS, @aylamm2_ and her family are officially part of our family now!https://t.co/mP2w0dt2lg pic.twitter.com/gDOvMhLhWv
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) November 13, 2024
McDowell is ranked as the No. 22 recruit in the Class of 2025, according to ESPNW 100, and averaged 19.6 points per game, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.4 assists as a junior at Cypress Spring High School. Her size and length are what set her apart on the court, and Staley highlighted her ability to score at all three levels on the court.
Even at the age of 17, McDowell had already competed internationally with the U18 USA Women's Basketball team when she competed in Brazil in the 2024 FIBA U18 Women's AmeriCup as she led her team with 14.8 points per game, which happened to be the second-highest of anyone else in the tournament.
In talking about McDowell, it is well known that Staley is excited to get her in the building. Staley has even said she thinks McDowell could be captain one day, and that is before she has even seen her in a Gamecocks uniform on the court.
McDowell said that the biggest reason she chose South Carolina was not because of the success and the championships but because of the relationship she was able to make with the coaching staff. Fans will only have to wait till next season to see their newest recruit on the court, hoping that she will be helping the Gamecocks go for their fourth straight National Championship, obviously after winning their third this season.