Two Future Gamecocks. One Global Stage.

Agot Makeer & Ayla McDowell are lighting up the U19 World Cup as knockout rounds begin—Dawn Staley’s watching, and so should you!

“South Carolina Stars Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell Set for International Showdown”

Gamecocks Shine on Global Stage as FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup Heads to Knockout Round

The FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup heats up as the knockout round begins Wednesday in Brno, Czechia, and two future Gamecocks—Agot Makeer (Canada) and Ayla McDowell (Brazil)—are making their presence known.

With replays available for all games, fans can catch up on standout performances, or follow the action live on the FIBA YouTube channel or the U19 Basketball World Cup website—both free to stream.

Dawn Staley Hits the Road

Not one to miss a moment, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has flown overseas to Brno to watch her incoming stars in person—and to scout more international talent. Staley’s presence underscores how important this tournament is for the program’s future.

Agot Makeer: Canada’s Secret Weapon

Though coming off the bench, Makeer has quietly emerged as one of Canada’s top contributors, averaging:

12.3 points
4.7 rebounds
2.0 assists
53.3% from three-point range, including 5-for-7 vs Nigeria

She’s shown her versatility by playing multiple positions, even sliding in as a point guard, and is Canada’s third-leading scorer through group play.

Canada dominated Group B with blowout wins over:

Portugal (88-49)
Nigeria (113-42)
China (115-52)

Ayla McDowell: Brazil’s Two-Way Star

Despite Brazil’s struggles, McDowell has been one of the tournament’s top individual performers, ranking fourth overall in scoring at:

18.0 points
6.0 rebounds
4.0 steals (tournament leader)

Her impact is undeniable, even though her shooting percentage is under 30%. In Brazil’s losses to France and Australia, she still logged huge minutes (33 and 34) while filling the stat sheet with points, steals, and rebounds.

Brazil was originally scheduled to play three games in Group C but only played two due to visa issues for Mali, who couldn’t travel.

Potential Gamecock Showdown?

Canada and Brazil could meet in the quarterfinals, depending on the outcomes of their Wednesday matchups:

Canada vs South Korea – 5:45 AM ET
Brazil vs Japan – 1:45 PM ET

Win or lose, both teams will continue to play daily in either the winners’ or losers’ bracket.

No Gamecocks on Team USA—But Targets Are Watching

While Team USA doesn’t feature any current Gamecocks, South Carolina is actively recruiting several U.S. players in the tournament, including:

Saniyah Hall – took an official visit in May
Kate Harpring – visited last fall
Sydney Douglas

Team USA is on a 21-game U19 World Cup win streak dating back to 2017, and could set a new record of 26 consecutive wins if they run the table.

Full Schedule (Eastern Time)

Canada

Wednesday, July 16 – vs South Korea, 5:45 AM (Game 28)
Friday, July 18 – Quarterfinals TBD
Saturday, July 19 – Semifinals TBD
Sunday, July 20 – Finals TBD

Brazil

Wednesday, July 16 – vs Japan, 1:45 PM (Game 31)
Friday, July 18 – Quarterfinals TBD
Saturday, July 19 – Semifinals TBD
Sunday, July 20 – Finals TBD

USA

Wednesday, July 16 – vs China, 8:30 AM (Game 25)
Friday, July 18 – Quarterfinals TBD
Saturday, July 19 – Semifinals TBD
Sunday, July 20 – Finals TBD

How to Watch

All games are free to stream live or on replay via:

FIBA’s YouTube Channel
U19 Basketball World Cup website

With Coach Staley in the building and her recruits lighting up the international stage, South Carolina fans have plenty of reasons to tune in.