Ta'Niya Latson reveals why she picked South Carolina, Dawn Staley over UConn, LSU, Tennessee
COLUMBIA — South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley went and got the nation's leading scorer in the transfer portal for her 2025-26 roster.
Ta’Niya Latson transferred from Florida State after three seasons in the ACC. She committed April 8, and signed on April 16. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 25.2 points per game in 2024-25.
On July 1, Latson revealed she spoke to many schools, including UConn, which beat the Gamecocks in the national championship, Tennessee and LSU. MiLaysia Fulwiley, who played AAU with Latson, transferred to LSU from South Carolina not long after Latson announced her commitment to the Gamecocks.
"I talked to a lot of schools," Latson said. "Ultimately, I knew my goals and I knew my vision and South Carolina had that."
With one year left of her college career, it's not just about winning a national title, as preparation for the WNBA was also her mind. Staley produced three 2025 WNBA Draft picks, and has had as many as 10 former players on a roster so far this season.
"The coaching staff, the culture they have and I know the standard they have," Latson said of why she transferred to South Carolina. "My goal is to be prepared for the next level and I know they have a lot of resources here. Coach Staley is amazing, my teammates are amazing so it was a easy choice for me."
South Carolina has won three of the last eight national championships and just made its fifth consecutive Final Four appearance. Staley has won Naismith College Coach of the Year four times, including three straight from 2022-24.
"Dawn, we had a couple conversations while I was in the portal and she was very personable and kept it real with me," Latson said. "I appreciate that because not a lot of coaches do that."
She feels like she can come to Staley now and talk to her about anything, adding that her teammates at South Carolina played a huge part in her coming to Columbia as well.
Raven Johnson, who played high school basketball and AAU with Latson, was vocal about her coming to the Gamecocks from the moment Latson went into the portal on March 27. Johnson could have declared for the WNBA draft but decided to take her extra year of eligibility instead.
This will be the first season schools can pay players as part of revenue sharing in addition to NIL.
"I mean that's the name of the game now," Latson said, when asked if any amount offered to her was surprising. "NIL is such a huge thing now especially with women's basketball so that was going to be the thing in the portal. I knew it was going to come but I have goals outside of just money and things that are being thrown at me. I know my vision and all that's going to come but I have a lot of goals."
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Ta'Niya Latson: Why Dawn Staley, South Carolina got FSU transfer
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