Two South Carolina Women’s Basketball Standouts Featured in WNBA Draft Mock

In recent years, the South Carolina women’s basketball program has seen remarkable success in the WNBA Draft, with six players selected in the first or second rounds over the past three years. It seems this trend will continue in the upcoming draft this spring, as the Gamecocks have multiple standouts expected to hear their names called once again.

This week, Tankathon released its updated WNBA Draft mock, which featured a pair of Gamecock players.

First up, Te-Hina Paopao, a guard for South Carolina, is listed as a potential pick for the No. 13 overall selection. Due to an offseason trade, the Las Vegas Aces now hold this pick. Should Paopao end up in Vegas, she would join A’ja Wilson and Tiffany Mitchell, two Gamecock legends, on the roster. Paopao’s shooting and secondary creation skills would be an ideal fit for a team already stacked with talent. Over her two years with South Carolina, Paopao has earned All-American honors twice, making a significant impact as one of the top contributors on a team considered by many to be a favorite to repeat as national champions.

Next, at No. 15, Tankathon has Sania Feagin, a post player, being selected by the Minnesota Lynx. While the Lynx already have standout post players like Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith, Feagin’s two-way ability would be a valuable addition. Feagin, who patiently waited for her opportunity at South Carolina, became a starter this season. She particularly stepped up after Ashlyn Watkins suffered a season-ending injury, earning defensive All-SEC honors despite playing out of position at center throughout the year.

In addition to Paopao and Feagin, another Gamecock has been receiving some WNBA Draft attention: Raven Johnson, a redshirt junior. Though Johnson hasn’t publicly made a decision about her future, she is eligible for the draft. Projections have placed her in the second or third round. If she decides to go pro, she’s expected to be selected later in the draft, but another year in college could help her improve her draft stock. A more consistent scoring ability alongside her elite on-ball defense and strong facilitation could see her position rise.

The 2025 WNBA Draft will take place on April 14th at 7:30 p.m. in New York City, and will be broadcast live on ESPN, with streaming available on the ESPN app.

For now, though, the Gamecocks are focused on their NCAA Tournament run. They’ll take on Tennessee Tech in the first round on Friday at 4:00 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena, with the game airing on ESPN.