South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has given an exciting prediction for one of her “elite” Gamecocks five-star additions who enjoyed an incredible junior season.

South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley has given an exciting prediction on one of her five-star additions.

Five-star class of 2025 wing Ayla McDowell signed with the Gamecocks on Wednesday as the signing period opened having announced her commitment to South Carolina on October 24. McDowell is the first signing for Staley’s 2025 class, with her ranked the No. 22 player in ESPNW’s top 100 recruits.

Staley lauded McDowell’s ability and promise after she averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebound, 2.5 steals and 2.4 assists as a junior at Cypress Springs High School, leading them to the 6A regional semi-finals with a 30-3 record. “Ayla is an elite wing who can score at all three levels and is a Swiss Army knife on defense with the ability to guard every position,” Staley said in a press release Wednesday.

“She is blessed with great size and athleticism that allow her to impact the game on both ends of the floor. A winner at every level, she moves the needle for her teams. As selfless as she is on the floor, she is even more of a giver off it, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Ayla and her family to Columbia.”

Staley was asked about McDowell on Thursday during media availability, where she continued to laud her acquisition. “She’s a great addition,” Staley said. “She’s a big long guard that can score, that can defend, quality individual, she will one day be a captain.

“She is that put together, she wants to be a pro, she wants to take the world by storm and she feels like we’re the best program to put her in that position and we’re incredibly happy to have her.”

Staley revealed her excitement to work with Ayla McDowell.
McDowell competed for Brazil in the 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, leading her team with 14.8 points per game – the second-highest average in the tournament. She was second in the team for rebounding with a 7.7 average. McDowell played in the loss to the U.S., scoring 10 points and seven rebounds.

The 6-foot-2 wing chose the Gamecocks ahead of a host of other prestigious colleges, including LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Florida and TCU. She played AAU basketball for Cy Fair Elite, a non-profit in Texas and Nike basketball affiliate. Listed on their roster as a point guard, she won the Nike national championship this year.

Staley’s immediate focus will turn back to the current Gamecocks crop as South Carolina host the Coppin State Eagles on Thursday. The Gamecocks hold a 2-0 record following victories over the Michigan Wolverines and the NC State Wolfpack. The Eagles have a 2-1 record, losing their only away game so far this season against the Maryland Terrapins.