“Dawn Staley Reacts After Joyce Edwards Dominates for Team USA in Gold Medal Win: ‘She Played Her Gamecock Butt Off!’”

Paraphrased and Rewritten Article (with Quotes Maintained):

Joyce Edwards Shines Bright as Team USA Wins FIBA AmeriCup Gold

South Carolina standout Joyce Edwards continues to add to her growing legacy. The Gamecock freshman was instrumental in Team USA’s gold medal victory over Brazil in the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, held Sunday evening in Santiago, Chile.

Coming off a remarkable freshman campaign that ended with a trip to the national championship game, Edwards carried her momentum into international play. She posted 11 points and seven rebounds in the final, helping the U.S. outlast Brazil, 92-84, to clinch the gold.

This marks Edwards’ third gold medal representing the United States. She previously earned MVP honors at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup and was also part of the gold-winning squad at the 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup.

Following the championship, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley took to X (formerly Twitter) to salute her star forward and the other Gamecock-connected players who participated in the final.

“Congrats to @GamecockWBB own @JoyceEdwards24 on winning the @AmeriCup and playing her Gamecock butt off! And shoutout to silver medalists @Kamillascsilva @aylamm2_ for representing Brazil in Gamecock fashion in the gold medal game!! Love ladies!!!” Staley wrote.

Edwards finished the AmeriCup tournament with averages of 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Her Gamecock teammate Ayla McDowell, who also suited up for Brazil, contributed off the bench with 2.3 points and 1.0 steals per game in four appearances.

Also representing Brazil was Kamilla Cardoso, the former South Carolina star and 2024 WNBA draft pick of the Chicago Sky. Cardoso had a dominant showing at the tournament, averaging 14.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 2.0 blocks per game.

Staley’s Belief in Edwards Runs Deep

Edwards joined South Carolina as the No. 3 overall recruit in the Class of 2024 after earning Gatorade National Player of the Year honors. She quickly earned a starting role and was a force throughout her freshman season, helping South Carolina win both the SEC regular season and tournament titles.

During the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Coach Staley didn’t shy away from expressing just how special she believes Edwards is.

“Joyce is going to be the best player in college basketball one day,” Staley said. “I say that only because of her work ethic, her intellect, and her want. Joyce injects what we need. She plays with huge bravado on both sides of the basketball; she believes, if she’s got a smaller person on her, or a bigger person, that she’s going to score. She defends like she’s unafraid.”

Edwards ended her freshman season as South Carolina’s leading scorer, averaging 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, helping propel the Gamecocks all the way to the national title game.

Now, with another gold medal around her neck and her stock rising on the international stage, Edwards appears well on her way to becoming the next great Gamecock — and possibly the next face of women’s college basketball.