In the world of college basketball, the future is always uncertain. With the end of the 2022-23 season, the South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball team bids farewell to a number of their seniors, leaving the team with a new look and a sense of unknown potential for the upcoming 2023-24 season.
According to ESPN’s “way too early” Top 25 poll for the next season, the Gamecocks are ranked at No. 7, a considerable drop from their previous wire-to-wire No. 1 ranking for the 2022-23 season. However, this doesn’t seem to discourage ESPN pundit Charlie Creme, who writes that “a new era has arrived in Columbia.”
As the team bids adieu to up to seven seniors, including star players Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, and Brea Beal, the Gamecocks will have to rely on a new crop of players to lead them forward. Creme highlights returning players Raven Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, and Bree Hall as potential leaders for the team next season. Creme even predicts that Cardoso, who will have more playing time with Boston’s departure, could “emerge as a dominating force.”
The Gamecocks will also be adding three high school signees to the roster: guards Milaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson, and wing Sahnya Jah. Fulwiley and Johnson have already proven their talent, having been named McDonald’s All-Americans.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the team’s new look, there’s no denying that the Gamecocks have a legacy of success on the court. With head coach Dawn Staley at the helm, the team has consistently been a contender in the SEC and in national rankings. And with the addition of promising new players, the team’s potential is endless.
Of course, the upcoming 2023-24 season won’t be without its challenges. ESPN’s projected No. 1 team, UConn, is undoubtedly a tough opponent, and the Gamecocks will need to be at their best to compete with the likes of Utah, LSU, Iowa, and the other top-ranked teams.
But for the Gamecocks, the future is bright. As they prepare to embark on a new season with a new look, they’ll have the support of their fans and the guidance of their experienced coaching staff. And who knows? Maybe this “new era” will be the start of another incredible chapter in South Carolina women’s basketball history.
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