Gamecock Trio Earns Spot on Staley Award Late-Season Watch List

In an exciting development for South Carolina women’s basketball, three Gamecock guards have earned a spot on The Dawn Staley Award Later Season Watch List, as announced by the Phoenix Club of Philadelphia today. Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley, redshirt-junior Raven Johnson, and senior Te-Hina Paopao are among the 17 players selected for the prestigious list, which honors those who exhibit the qualities that made Dawn Staley a basketball legend—ball-handling, scoring, playmaking, and an indomitable will to win.

MiLaysia Fulwiley has been a standout for South Carolina this season, averaging 11.5 points per game, making her the team’s second-highest scorer. Her impressive performance in SEC play, where she averages 13.1 points per game, has been a key factor in the Gamecocks’ success. She has scored in double figures 16 times this season, including the last six games. Fulwiley’s all-around play also stands out—she ranks eighth in the SEC with 2.00 steals per game, tenth in free throw percentage (.830), and 11th in blocks per game at 1.00.

Raven Johnson has been a playmaking force for South Carolina, ranking second in the SEC and eighth in the nation with a remarkable 3.00 assist-to-turnover ratio. In conference games, she holds the top spot in the SEC with a 3.64 ratio. Additionally, Johnson leads the Gamecocks in assists with 3.00 per game, including 3.33 per SEC game, placing her 13th in the league. Her defensive prowess is also evident, as she averages 1.83 steals per SEC game, ranking 10th in the conference, with multiple games featuring five or more steals.

Meanwhile, Te-Hina Paopao provides steady leadership in the Gamecock backcourt. She is the team’s third-leading scorer with an average of 10.4 points per game, and her performances against ranked opponents stand out, as she averages 11.4 points per game in those matchups. Paopao is shooting an impressive 48.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from beyond the arc in games against ranked teams. Additionally, she is second on the team with 2.8 assists per game. In SEC play, Paopao ranks eighth in the conference with a 1.90 assist-to-turnover ratio and 15th with 1.75 made 3-pointers per game.

As for the award, four finalists will be announced in mid-March, and the winner will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four weekend, followed by a virtual ceremony in April 2025. Two former Gamecocks have previously won The Dawn Staley Award—Tiffany Mitchell in 2015 and Tyasha Harris in 2020.

Looking ahead, the No. 6-ranked Gamecocks will return to Colonial Life Arena on Thursday for the final game of their three-game homestand, taking on Arkansas at 7 p.m.

For the latest updates on South Carolina women’s basketball, be sure to visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team on social media (@GamecockWBB).

Dawn Staley Award Later Season Watch List:

• Georgia Amoore, Kentucky
• Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
• Paige Bueckers, UConn
• Azzi Fudd, UConn
• MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina
• Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
• Izzy Higginbottom, Arkansas
• Diamond Johnson, Norfolk State
• Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
• Raven Johnson, South Carolina
• Grace Larkins, South Dakota
• Ta’Niya Latson, Florida State
• Olivia Miles, Notre Dame
• Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina
• Shyanne Sellers, Maryland
• JuJu Watkins, Southern Cal
• Mikaylah Williams, LSU