Pair of Gamecocks 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 25 players named to the 2026 Naismith Women’s College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Watch list, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today. South Carolina is one of three schools with multiple selections, and the 12 of the 25 entries play in the SEC.
Edwards is enjoying a career season on both ends of the court, ranking among the Gamecocks’ top two in nearly every stat and among the nation’s top 20 in key offensive measures. Defensively, she is ninth in the SEC with 1.4 blocks per game, including 1.3 per SEC outing. The versatile post player is 11th in the league in steals per game with 2.1 for the season, which includes 2.3 per game against ranked opponents and 1.9 per SEC contest. Edwards’ 6.2 rebounds per game include 3.4 on the defensive end, and her 6.9 boards per SEC outing rank 15th in the conference.
Johnson has long been the nemesis of opposing guards with her relentless defensive pressure on either the primary ball-handler or a top scorer. That pressure has helped South Carolina rank 26th in the nation in scoring defense and third in field goal percentage defense. Johnson has 1.5 steals per game, and 70.6 percent those have led immediately to points. That number rises to 85.7 percent against ranked opponents and 100 percent of her steals in SEC play have led immediately to points.
No. 3/3 South Carolina is on a two-game road swing in the SEC, beginning on Thu., Jan. 29, at Auburn in a 9 p.m. ET tipoff on SEC Network. The Gamecocks then head to Texas A&M for an 8 p.m. ET tipoff on Mon., Feb. 2 on ESPN2.
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 Watch List
KK Arnold, UConn
Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
Lauren Betts, UCLA
Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Maidson Booker, Texas
Kennedy Cambridge, Ohio State
Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
Julia Dalan, Portland
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
Uche Izoje, Syracuse
Raven Johnson, South Carolina
Rashunda Jones, Michigan State
Latasha Lattimore, Ole Miss
Indya Nivar, North Carlina
Khamil Pierre, NC State
Ny’Ceara Pryor, Texas A&M
Clara Strack, Kentucky
Sarah Strong, UConn
