South-Carolina
Can South Carolina run it back — and nine more questions for women’s college basketball
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Michael Voepel
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Alexa Philippou
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Alexa Philippou
ESPN
- Covers women’s college basketball and the WNBA
- Previously covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
- Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times and Cincinnati Enquirer
The 2023-24 women’s college basketball season ended with perfection as the South Carolina Gamecocks went 38-0 and won the program’s third NCAA championship.
Can the Gamecocks run it back? That’s one of the biggest questions that will shape the 2024-25 season.
Which player will fill the game’s brightest spotlight now that Caitlin Clark, the two-time national player of the year, is gone? What should we expect from last season’s exciting freshman class, led by USC’s JuJu Watkins? How will the breakup of the Pac-12 impact the sport?
With the season tipping off Nov. 4, we look at 10 of the biggest questions heading into the 2024-2025 season.
Can the Gamecocks win back-to-back titles?
Yes, they can. But they might look a little different doing it, at least early on, since the Gamecocks’ guards might be ahead of their post play.
Center Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft by the Chicago Sky, led South Carolina last season in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. But the next two scoring leaders, guards MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.7 points per game) and Te-Hina Paopao (11.0 PPG), return.
South Carolina still has a lot of talent in the post, including freshman Joyce Edwards. But forward Ashlyn Watkins (9.2 PPG, 7.4 rebounds per game) has been suspended since an Aug. 31 arrest on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. Her court appearance set for Oct. 25 was rescheduled.
Another undefeated season seems like a lot to ask. But the Gamecocks — who return 87% of their minutes played and 84% of their points scored from a season ago — are still first in the national championship discussion. — Voepel
Can UConn return to the mountaintop?
UConn is the gold standard of college basketball with 11 national titles, but the Huskies haven’t been the last team standing since 2016, Breanna Stewart’s senior year. The Huskies reached the Final Four in all but one season in that span, and played in the 2022 national title game.
Could this be the year they finally win that 12th championship? Former national player of the year Paige Bueckers is hungry to make it happen in her final season in Storrs before heading to the WNBA. She’ll have a lot on her shoulders leading a relatively young and inexperienced, albeit talented, team following the departures of Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. The program will need to have better luck with health than it has experienced the past few years to get back to the mountaintop. — Philippou
Can the L.A. schools get to the Final Four?
USC and UCLA were two of the most exciting teams to watch last season. Watkins brought the Trojans back to prominence for the first time in decades, while Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne led a deep Bruins squad.
Both teams should be even better this year. USC brought in transfers Kiki Iriafen (Stanford) and Talia von Oelhoffen (Oregon State), plus a stacked freshman class, to help Watkins. In Westwood, coach Cori Close snagged intriguing transfers in Janiah Barker (Texas A&M), Timea Gardiner (Oregon State) and Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State).
The battle for the Big Ten will preview both teams’ push to get to the Final Four — USC for the first time since 1986 and UCLA for the first time in the NCAA era. — Philippou
Who will win player of the year?
The favorites going into the season are sophomore Watkins (27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 assists per game) and senior Bueckers (21.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.8 APG), who was the consensus player of the year her freshman season in 2020-21.
Other candidates might emerge during the season, depending on how their teams perform. While South Carolina is the favorite at No. 1, the Gamecocks’ depth of talent is such that they don’t have an obvious player of the year candidate. — Voepel
Which freshmen or transfers will make the biggest splash?
Last year’s freshman class made waves all season long. So did a host of transfers. So which newcomers — incoming freshmen or transfers to new programs — will prove to be difference-makers in 2024-25?
As far as the freshmen go, UConn is the only program with two top-10 recruits, headlined by No. 1 prospect Sarah Strong. Jaloni Cambridge was a huge get for Ohio State, especially considering the program’s graduation losses. Joyce Edwards, who decided to stay home and go to South Carolina, has already received rave reviews from coach Dawn Staley.
Aside from the aforementioned transfers into the L.A. schools, Raegan Beers (Oregon State to Oklahoma), Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech to Kentucky) and Lucy Olsen (Villanova to Iowa) are among the key players to watch. — Philippou
How will players back from injuries fare?
Three big-name guards missed all (Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles), most (UConn’s Azzi Fudd) or a large part (Texas’ Rori Harmon) of last season due to knee injuries. All are expected back, although Fudd probably won’t play until December. They are dynamic players who can make a big difference in their teams’ national championship potential.
Other players to watch after injury: UConn center Jana El Alfy (Achilles) is expected to make her long-awaited college debut. LSU forward Sa’Myah Smith (knee, played seven games last season) could be a big help in making up for the loss of Angel Reese to the WNBA. Guard KK Deans (knee, played six games) should give Ole Miss’ perimeter scoring a boost. — Voepel
How deep can a Hidalgo-Miles backcourt take the Irish?
With Miles out, Irish fans were robbed of a year of a Hannah Hidalgo-Miles backcourt. But we’ll get to finally see that dynamic duo, and coach Niele Ivey already has said the pairing is going to be “electric.”
With Miles and Hidalgo leading the charge, optimism is high in South Bend that this is the year the Irish — the ACC preseason favorites — can advance past the Sweet 16 for the first time in Ivey’s tenure.
Those two won’t have to do it alone, as the Irish also return Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld and have a strong group of newcomers: transfers Liza Karlen (Marquette) and Liatu King (Pitt) plus freshman Kate Koval. — Philippou
What should we expect of Stanford in a new era?
Of all the coaching changes, none is bigger than Stanford not having legendary Tara VanDerveer on the sideline for the first time since she took over in 1985. Kate Paye takes over, and we’ll see how different the Cardinal might look under VanDerveer’s former player and longtime assistant.
There’s also a big change in personnel, with Cameron Brink moving on to the WNBA, Iriafen transferring and Hannah Jump completing her eligibility. They were the Cardinal’s top three scorers from a 30-6 season.
Stanford is difficult to project right now because so much is new, but the Cardinal playing in the ACC will be as strange as anything. — Voepel
What will Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee look like under new leadership?
The situation at Iowa is most similar to Stanford, with Lisa Bluder stepping down after 24 years and her assistant during that time, Jan Jensen, taking over. The Hawkeyes lost not just a generational star in Clark, but players such as starting guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall as well. That said, forward Hannah Stuelke is primed for a big junior season, and Jensen should get the best out of this group.
Kentucky is still seeking its first Final Four on the women’s side. Coach Kenny Brooks made that breakthrough at Virginia Tech, so maybe he can do it with the Wildcats. It likely won’t happen this season, but give Brooks time to establish his system.
At Tennessee, Kim Caldwell will try to transfer her up-tempo offensive and defensive style to the SEC after success last year at Marshall. Caldwell doesn’t have much Division I experience, so she will have to learn on the fly in a hypercompetitive league. — Voepel
How will realignment impact college basketball?
The past year’s realignment whirlwind, and the disintegration of the Pac-12, will undoubtedly take some getting used to, particularly with Stanford and Cal now in the ACC, and USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon in the Big Ten.
But which programs will make the most noise in their new leagues? The L.A. schools are at the top of the list, with both slotted as the top two teams in the Big Ten preseason poll. In the SEC, Texas was projected to finish behind South Carolina, and Oklahoma was picked to come in fourth. Could the Longhorns — a top-five preseason team nationally — challenge the Gamecocks?
None of the ACC newcomers seem likely to emerge as conference contenders. In the Big 12, Kansas State and Iowa State figure to be the favorites with the Longhorns and Sooners gone. — Philippou
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — The South Carolina State Museum opened its doors Saturday for a day of free admission, live entertainment and hands-on activities as it marked America’s 250th anniversary and unveiled a new exhibit focused on the Palmetto State’s role in the Revolutionary War.
The event, billed as “Salute to 250 Day,” included the grand opening of “American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution,” an exhibition exploring South Carolina’s role in the fight for independence.
“When we think of the revolution, of course we think about Bunker Hill, and George Washington, and crossing the Delaware, and in Yorktown and the battles up there,” said Christopher Graham, curator of the Revolution exhibit.
But on two occasions, the British attempted to invade the southern colonies. The first occasion, 1776, South Carolina drove off the attempt and British returned in 1780 and captured Charlestown, and moved into the backcountry attempting to reestablish rural control. That’s when the backcountry militia rose up and begin fighting the British without much government support, and eventually driving the British out of South Carolina into North Carolina and toward their fate at Yorktown.
Organizers said the exhibit is intended to help visitors learn about the Revolutionary War in the South, with artifacts meant to connect people of all ages with the state’s history.
Among the items on display is what Graham described as a significant South Carolina artifact.
“There is an iconic South Carolina artifact in here. It’s the flag of the second South Carolina regiment that was given to the regiment just a couple days after the battle of Sullivans Island, and carried for several year,” Graham said. “It was captured at the siege of Savannah carried back to Britain, where lived for 200 years, and now it’s back and it’s on exhibit.”
Chandler Mack, PR manager for the South Carolina State Museum, said the exhibit is part of a broader effort to begin a year of commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
“we played a very pivotal role in our nations quest for independence during the revolutionary war. So that’s why we wanted to open ‘American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution’ to tell that story and tell the story of what life was like for every South Carolinian,” Mack said.
A shark is swimming around a surfer in Aptos, California
Drone footage shows a large shark was seen swimming ominously close to a surfer sitting on his surfboard at Seascape Beach in Aptos, California.
As summer crowds return to South Carolina’s beaches, new data highlights how influential the Palmetto State is on America’s shark risk.
The state has 118 recorded historical shark attacks, the third‑highest total in the nation. Two unprovoked bites have already been reported in 2026, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.
South Carolina remains one of the country’s most closely watched coastal hotspots where incidents from shark bites to lightning strikes are likely to occur. Myrtle Beach, in particular, stands out, as it ranks No. 14 overall in hazard risk and No. 2 nationally for shark‑bite risk.
How likely is a shark bite in Myrtle Beach?
The odds of a shark bite in Myrtle Beach are estimated at 1 in 720,000 during a two‑week trip, equivalent to a 0.00014% likelihood, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.
Even with Myrtle Beach’s national ranking, the numbers make one thing clear: shark encounters remain pretty rare.
Has there ever been a fatal shark attack at a South Carolina beach?
Despite its high risk of recorded shark encounters, there has never been a confirmed or fatal unprovoked shark attack in South Carolina in modern history.
The only such incident on record dates all the way back to 1852 in Charleston Harbor, according to America Surf, a magazine dedicated to surfing.
Myrtle Beach is among America’s top shark hotspots
With new national rankings spotlighting Myrtle Beach as one of the country’s most closely watched shark hotspots.
Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study reveals it stems largely from the area’s intense swimmer density and environmental conditions.
With over 17 million visitors each year, Myrtle Beach does see an increase in accidental shark interactions. At the same time, the region’s warm, murky coastal waters create ideal shark-hunting conditions.
What types of sharks are at Myrtle Beach? Blacktips to bull sharks
As concerns about coastal safety rise each summer, understanding which sharks are actually responsible for bites in Myrtle Beach helps put the risk into perspective.
Most incidents in South Carolina involve small to medium coastal species, not large predators, according to americansurfmagazine.com
Along the beach, sharks most often linked to bites include blacktips, spinners, bull sharks, sandbar sharks, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks.
Reality of shark encounters in Myrtle Beach
Understanding why shark bites happen in Myrtle Beach helps make sense of the danger.
As reported by americansurfmagazine.com, most incidents aren’t aggressive attacks but quick, unintentional encounters driven by shark behavior.
Bites are typically unprovoked yet non‑aggressive, often involving single, rapid nips when a shark mistakes a hand, foot, or ankle for a small fish in the surf.
Juvenile sharks feeding in shallow, turbid water are the usual culprits, especially fast‑moving blacktips and spinners, which strike at baitfish near the shoreline and may accidentally contact swimmers.
Ways to reduce shark bite risk this beach season
As the summer beach season approaches, safety experts say that most shark encounters can be prevented with simple habits in the water.
According to the Florida Museum, ways to keep yourself and others safe include swimming in groups, staying close to shore, and avoiding the ocean during dawn, dusk, or nighttime, when sharks are most active.
It also means minimizing behaviors that attract attention, avoiding excess splashing, and steering clear of shiny jewelry or bright, high‑contrast clothing that resembles prey in murky waters.
Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball landed a potential starting infielder from the transfer portal.
Will Craddock, who played one season at South Carolina, committed to the Bulldogs on June 26.
“Hail State,” Craddock wrote on Instagram.
The freshman batted .260, leading the Gamecocks in home runs (10) and runs (36) while ranking third with 29 RBIs. In SEC play, his average dipped to .172 with two home runs, six RBIs and 14 runs.
Craddock primarily played first base, but also made starts at second base, third base and designated hitter. He started all three games against Mississippi State in April, batting 3-for-14 with a walk, no RBIs but two runs.
He was a standout player for T.L. Hanna in Anderson, South Carolina, and was the state’s 5A Player of the year in 2025. He hit .442 that season with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases while ranked as the No. 26 player in South Carolina.
Mississippi State’s starting first baseman, Reed Stallman, is out of eligibility.
The transfer portal opened June 1 and closes June 30.
Mississippi State baseball transfer portal class
Craddock is the 10th transfer to commit to Mississippi State and the second South Carolina player, joining relief pitcher Zach Russell.
Other position players who are transferring to MSU include Georgia Southern catcher/outfielder Brady Christman, Samford outfielder Jake Souders, Army utility player Josiah Overbeek, South Dakota State third baseman Nolan Grawe, Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus and North Florida outfielder Carter White.
Twelve Mississippi State players have entered the transfer portal as of June 26, including relief pitcher Tyler Pitzer who committed to South Carolina.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
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