Five Gamecocks Receive Honors from SEC Coaches

Five members of the SEC Champion South Carolina women’s basketball team have been honored with postseason awards, as announced by the SEC coaches today.

Leading the charge is Joyce Edwards, who was named to the All-SEC First Team. Edwards, who has been a standout for the Gamecocks all season, is joined by MiLaysia Fulwiley, who earned the prestigious title of SEC Sixth Woman of the Year. Also making waves, Te-Hina Paopao secured a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, alongside Fulwiley. Meanwhile, Sania Feagin and Raven Johnson earned places on the All-Defensive Team, and Edwards was named to the All-Freshman Team.

Joyce Edwards has etched her name into history, becoming only the third Gamecock freshman to land on the All-SEC First Team, following in the footsteps of A’ja Wilson in 2015 and Aliyah Boston in 2020. Edwards, hailing from Camden, S.C., has been the Gamecocks’ top scorer, averaging 13.0 points per game overall, 14.4 in SEC play, and 11.8 against ranked opponents. Her .558 field goal percentage ranks 4th in the SEC and 29th in the nation, with a remarkable 57.2% in league play—second-best in the SEC. Edwards has been the Gamecocks’ leading scorer in 13 games, including seven against ranked teams, and she has already posted three doubles-doubles, including her first career one against #15/15 Iowa State.

MiLaysia Fulwiley has been named SEC Sixth Woman of the Year, making her the third Gamecock to receive this honor, joining Alaina Coates in 2014 and Kamilla Cardoso in 2023. The dynamic sophomore has been exceptional this season, not only increasing her scoring average to 11.9 points per game but also thriving defensively. Fulwiley ranks ninth in the SEC with 1.94 steals per game and 10th in blocks (0.94 per game). She has posted seven games with three or more steals, highlighted by a career-high five against Florida and a memorable four steals— all in the fourth quarter—against #15/14 Kentucky.

Te-Hina Paopao continues to lead with composure and veteran experience. Averaging 10.2 points per game, including 11.5 against ranked teams, Paopao is shooting 45.7% from the field. She’s also leading the team with 3.0 assists per game and boasts a 2.57 assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking 16th nationally. In SEC play, her 3.44 assists per game rank 12th, and her assist-to-turnover ratio is fourth-best in the conference.

Sania Feagin has been an intimidating defensive force this season, ranking sixth in the SEC with 1.60 blocks per game, and second in SEC play with 2.06 blocks per game. Her presence in the paint has been a game-changer, with standout performances, including six blocks in a win over Texas and five in a crucial victory at Ole Miss.

Meanwhile, Raven Johnson continues to be the backbone of the Gamecocks’ defense. The team ranks fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense, and Johnson leads the charge with 1.48 steals per game. She has had six games with three or more steals, including three SEC games where she tallied five or more steals.

Looking ahead, South Carolina is heading to Greenville, S.C., for the SEC Tournament later this week. The Gamecocks, who are ranked No. 5 nationally, have secured the No. 1 seed for the fourth consecutive season and will begin their tournament run in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7, at noon on ESPN.

Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and follow the team’s social media (@GamecockWBB) for all the latest updates on the women’s basketball season.

Here are the full 2025 SEC Awards:

Player of the Year: Madison Booker, Texas
Coach of the Year: Vic Schaefer, Texas
Defensive Player of the Year: Clara Strack, Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Newcomer of the Year: Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
Sixth Woman of the Year: MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Grace Slaughter, Missouri

All-SEC First Team:

• Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
• Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
• Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
• Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
• Madison Booker, Texas
• Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
• Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
• Aneesah Morrow, LSU
• Mikaylah Williams, LSU

All-SEC Second Team:

• Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
• MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
• DeYona Gaston, Auburn
• Jerkaila Jordan, Mississippi State
• Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
• Madison Scott, Ole Miss
• Clara Strack, Kentucky
• Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma

All-Freshman Team:

• Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
• Yuting Deng, Auburn
• Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
• Jordan Lee, Texas
• Liv McGill, Florida
• Sira Thienou, Ole Miss
• Trinity Turner, Georgia
• Mia Woolfolk, Georgia

All-Defensive Team:

• Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
• Sania Feagin, South Carolina
• Rori Harmon, Texas
• Raven Johnson, South Carolina
• Aneesah Morrow, LSU
• Clara Strack, Kentucky

Stay with us for more updates!