It might be the offseason for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks, but there are several ways to watch her players take the court this summer. The best part about it is that they will be representing the red, white and blue.
On Wednesday, Gamecock incoming freshmen Kelsi Andrews and Oliviyah Edwards were selected to participate in the upcoming 2026 USA Basketball Women’s U18 National Team trials scheduled for later this month. The trials, which will take place at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. is set for May 30.
Edwards and Andrews will be one of 22 athletes to participate in the trial, and the final 12-member team will be announced at the conclusion of the trials. So for both Gamecocks, this is essentially a tryout to try and make the full roster.
Two more Gamecocks in the mix for USA Basketball this summer – good luck at trials this weekend @EdwardsOliviyah @KelsiAndrews23
— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) May 27, 2026
🔗: https://t.co/w9xC4QvdEK pic.twitter.com/GrP9EBMYuR
If the duo does make the final roster, they will compete for Team USA at the 2026 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, which is scheduled for June 9-15 in Irapuato, Mexico. There will also be a four-day training camp before the team sets off down south.
Edwards was a prized player in Staley's most recent recruiting class. The five-star power forward was rated as the nation's No. 1 overall power-forward in the class of 2026, and ranked fifth nationally. She committed to South Carolina shortly after being released from her letter of intent with Tennessee. Andrews is also a five-star prospect, rated as the No. 3 overall center from the class of 2026 out of IMG Academy.
Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley has been supportive of her players playing away from South Carolina in the offseason.
“Anytime your players can play outside the season and play in a competitive event, it’s a good thing,” Staley said last year via Gamecock Central.
This is the third player in recent weeks of Dawn Staley's to be selected for Team USA this summer. Just last week, Joyce Edwards was selected for the FIBA 3x3 USA team, which will compete in Poland later this month.
Congrats to both ladies for earning a spot in the trials!
ALSO READ: SEC announces massive schedule that will likely impact rivalry weekend
Add us as a preferred source on Google