STARTING FIVE
Predicting USC women’s lineup for 2023-24
COLUMBIA — There were very few lineup questions for South Carolina women’s basketball entering last season, but the Gamecocks are starting from scratch in 2023-24 with zero returning starters.
South Carolina reached a third consecutive Final Four and completed the first undefeated regular season in program history in 2022-23, then graduated seven seniors, including all five starters and three first-round WNBA Draft picks. With five newcomers and just one senior on the roster, this season’s squad will look very different than the past four years led by ‘The Freshies.’
With 125 days left until South Carolina tips off the 2023-24 season, here’s what the starting lineup could look like when the Gamecocks face Notre Dame in Paris on Nov. 6:
Kamilla Cardoso, forward
Cardoso was the breakout star of the 2022-23 season for the Gamecocks, and she’s the only real option at center without Aliyah Boston. South Carolina signed 6-foot-5 Sakima Walker out of the transfer portal, and though she will be a fun pairing with 6-7 Cardoso, Walker will likely need some transition time coming up from the junior college level to the SEC.
Cardoso has a proven track record as an impact player, averaging 9.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 18 minutes per game last season. She still has room to develop as a defender, particularly outside of the paint, but her size alone gives her the advantage over most opponents.
Bree Hall, guard
It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Hall doesn’t start this season after she looked like the heir apparent to four-year starter Brea Beal in her minutes off the bench in 2022-23. She averaged five points, two rebounds and was the team’s leading 3-point shooter hitting 38% beyond the arc.
The 6-0 Hall is easily the Gamecocks’ best returning 1-on-1 defender, and they’ll need her on the court as much as
possible to anchor a weaker defensive lineup than they are used to. She’s also proven to work well alongside Cardoso and Raven Johnson with the trio regularly rotating off the bench together last season.
Raven Johnson, guard
Johnson is virtually guaranteed the starting point guard spot after coach Dawn Staley gushed over her development late last season. The former No. 1 point guard prospect in the Class of 2021, Johnson rebounded from a season-ending knee injury in her first year to become one of South Carolina’s biggest bench weapons as a redshirt freshman in 2022-23.
The 5-8 Johnson averaged 4.2 points, 3.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and a steal in 18 minutes per game, splitting time with graduate transfer Kierra Fletcher. The other two point guards on the 2023-24 roster, Te-Hina Paopao and Milaysia Fulwiley, are both newcomers and aren’t likely to surpass Johnson any time soon.
Te-Hina Paopao, guard
Here’s where things gets more uncertain, but Paopao as a starter makes sense based on Staley’s recent proclivity for a three-guard lineup. The 5-9 Oregon transfer is an elite shooter, hitting 42.4% from 3-point range and 88% at the free-throw line for the Ducks in 2022-23. She averaged 13.1 points plus 4.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists on the season.
Paopao’s biggest area of development will be on the defensive side, and the physicality of SEC basketball might take some getting used to. However, South Carolina needs Paopao’s experience and leadership as the only player on the roster who has ever been a consistent starter on a Power 5 team.
Ashlyn Watkins, forward
Watkins, a 6-3 sophomore, faces ones of the toughest position battles against 6-3 junior Sania Feagin. Watkins earned more minutes in 2022-23, 10 per game to Feagin’s seven, and she averaged 4.9 points and 3.1 rebounds shooting 56% from the field.
Staley has called Feagin the most talented post player on the roster, including Boston and Cardoso, but consistently expressed frustration with her struggles on defense. Watkins was a more consistent defender last season and is plenty capable as a scorer and rebounder — she logged a double-double in SEC play against Florida. If Paopao gets the starting 2-guard spot, Watkins makes more sense to balance the strengths and weaknesses, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see her split minutes with Feagin throughout the season.