Former South Carolina basketball star back in pro game after signing new contract

With all of the success South Carolina basketball coach Dawn Staley has had with the Gamecocks, it isn't a surprise that USC has put some of the most talent in the WNBA. A'ja Wilson, Allisha Gray, and Aliyah Boston all have made the WNBA All-Star Game the past two seasons (Wilson has made it every season she has been in the league), and Kamilla Cardoso likely will make the WNBA All-Rookie team.

However, Staley hasn't just put a handful of stars into the W. There are Gamecock role players littering WNBA rosters, as well. The number of these players just grew by one on Wednesday.

According to a release from the team, the Chicago Sky have signed Kaela Davis to a hardship contract. Hardship contracts are 7-day contracts that teams are allowed to give to free agents when they have injury (or other hardship) issues on the roster.

Davis, who spent short stints with the Seattle Storm and Atlanta Dream earlier this season, will provide the Sky with some depth on the wing, but she could help out with some small-ball minutes at power forward if needed, something she did at times in college.

An injury to star rookie Angel Reese has the Sky's forward rotation tighter than they would like, and several wing players are having to get some minutes at the 4-spot to help fill the void. It is unclear at this time if the Sky will try to play Davis as part of the rotation down low next to fellow former Gamecock Kamilla Cardoso (who is a true center), or if Davis will stay on the wing.

During her South Carolina basketball career (which was just one season after transferring in from Georgia Tech), Davis averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists as one of the most important players on the 2016-2017 National Championship squad.