Edwards, Johnson on Defensive Award Watch List

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball sophomore forward Joyce Edwards and senior guard Raven Johnson are among the 15 players named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Late-Season Watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. South Carolina is the only team with multiple entries on the list, which includes eight SEC players.

South Carolina is among the most dominant defensive teams in the nation, leading the nation in field goal percentage defense at 335 and ranking fourth in scoring defense at 56.0 points per game allowed. In 11 games against ranked opponents, the defense has yielded just 64.7 points per game and 39.1 percent shooting to some of the nation’s top teams. Only one team has reached 80 points against the Gamecocks, and it required overtime for them to get there.

Edwards is a big part of the interior defense, ranking among the SEC’s top 15 in both blocks and steals per game. She is 11th with 1.1 blocks per game and comes in 12th at 1.9 steals per outing. A majority of her 6.2 rebounds per game come on the defensive end as well.

Johnson is among the top on-ball defenders in the nation. As the primary defender against the SEC’s top 10 scorers, she has allowed just 0.571 points per possession on 25.0 percent field goal shooting. Just her presence on the floor impacts opposing teams. Ranked opponents are shooting four percent lower with her on the court and average 8.3 points per 100 possessions fewer when she’s on the court. Synergy ranks her second in the nation in defensive impact at 10.9 points per 100 possessions. Johnson leads the Gamecock guards with a combined 68 blocks and steals on the season with the Gamecocks turning 67.3 percent of her steals directly into fast break points.

No. 3/3 South Carolina opens the last week of the regular season on Thu., Feb. 26, at Colonial Life Arena with an 8 p.m. tipoff against Missouri. The Gamecocks will honor their four seniors prior to the game at approximately 7:40 p.m. Fans are encouraged to bring canned food donations for the SEC Food Fight, which will be collected outside the area. There will also be a Teddy Bear Toss at halftime, with all stuffed animals (unboxed, no battery packs) donated to local charities.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for more information on the program.

2026 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Late-Season Watch List
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State
Jazzy Davidson, Southern Cal
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Toby Fournier, Duke
Madison Francis, Mississippi State
MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
Rori Harmon, Texas
Jordan Harrison, West Virginia
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame
Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Ny’Ceara Pryor, Texas A&M
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Sarah Strong, UConn