Gamecocks make final cut for Aussie star Sitaya Fagan

Top 2026 recruit Sitaya Fagan, the most heavily recruited Australian women’s basketball player ever, has named South Carolina as one of her final college programs.
AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2025
AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2025 | Steph Chambers/GettyImages

South Carolina women's basketball is in the mix for one of the most coveted international recruits in recent history. Sitaya Fagan, a versatile 2026 wing from Australia, announced that the Gamecocks are among her three finalists, along with Texas and Southern Cal. Fagan shared the news via social media in the early hours of August 31, which was around 5:00 p.m. local time in Australia.

The 6-foot-2 standout is widely considered one of the most heavily recruited Australian players ever, with a record 26 scholarship offers from NCAA programs. Louisville was the first to offer Fagan, followed by several major programs that recognized her talent on the court. Unlike many internaitonal players, Fagan is pursuing both elite basketball experience and a college degeree.

Fagan first gained attention at the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup in Mexico, followed by a breakout performance at the 2025 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup, where she averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds while helping to lead Australia to a silver medal. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was on hand this summer, scouting Fagan while also supporting Gamecock commits Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell.

Fagan is a strong defender with elite athleticism. “I actually prefer playing defence than offense sometimes,” she told basketball.com.au. “In my earliest stages, I was like, ‘No, I want to score, I want to drop 20,’ but moving on, you learn that defence wins games.”

If she commits to the Gamecocks, Fagan would become the first Australian player in South Carolina women's basketball history, adding another international dimension to Coach Staley's powerhouse program.