Dawn Staley and South Carolina just pulled off one of the biggest wins of the NCAA women's basketball offseason, successfully recruiting five-star forward Oliviyah Edwards — the Class of 2026's No. 3 overall prospect.
Dawn Staley Details Re-Recruiting Oliviyah Edwards
Edwards originally committed to Tennessee last August, signing her National Letter of Intent with the Lady Vols in November.
But a coaching staff shakeup alongside a wave of roster departures in Knoxville changed her path. Edwards subsequently requested a release from her commitment in April.
South Carolina moved quickly once Edwards reopened her recruitment. She visited Columbia in mid-April alongside Texas transfer Jordan Lee. Staley praised her staff and players for making the visit count.
"I just felt like our coaches, our administrators, our players did a really great job when she came on her visit," Staley told The State.
Staley also acknowledged that the Gamecocks were already on Edwards's radar before she signed with Tennessee.
"We were on her list," Staley added. "She was talking to a few of us. She was supposed to come visit us before she committed to Tennessee."
However, when former Lady Vols assistant Gabe Lazo left to coach UCF, the 6-foot-3 forward decided to reconsider her choice of schools.
She ultimately committed to South Carolina on April 27th, sharing on social media that "sometimes it takes twice to get it right."
How Oliviyah Edwards Fits Into South Carolina Women's Basketball
The Tacoma, Washington native brings both athleticism and dunking ability to the South Carolina women's basketball court.
Staley praised her elite skill set and competitive nature when discussing the Gamecocks' acquisition. She'll need both to earn minutes in South Carolina's deep starting lineup.
Edwards joins a recruiting class ranked No. 2 nationally by ESPN.
She will share the Gamecocks' frontcourt with senior Chloe Kitts, who is returning after missing the 2025-26 season with a torn ACL, and junior Joyce Edwards. After falling to UCLA in last year's NCAA women's championship game, Staley's side enters this next season as early title contenders.
The 2026/27 NCAA women's basketball season tips off in early November.
