Edwards Among McClain Award Top 10

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore Joyce Edwards earned a spot on the 2026 Katrina McClain Award Midseason Top 10, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in partnership with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today.

Edwards is enjoying an outstanding offensive season and contributing to the Gamecocks’ success on both sides of the ball. Her team-high 20.3 points per game rank 15^th in the nation (3^rd in SEC), including a team-best 13 20-point outings. Her scoring has come on 59.9 percent shooting, which is 14^th in the nation (3^rd in SEC). Edwards is stuffing the box score beyond scoring, averaging 2.5 assists and upping her rebounding to 6.4 per game. She is ninth in the conference with 1.3 blocks per game and 13^th in offensive rebounding at 2.9 per game. In SEC action, she is seventh in the league with 18.0 points per game, and her 7.1 rebounds per game are 11^th. That rebounding number includes a team-high 3.2 offensive boards per league outing to rank seventh.

In mid-March, the Midseason Top 10 list will be narrowed to just five, and in late-March, five finalists will be presented to McClain and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, which will select the winner. The selection committees are composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors and Hall of Famers.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in both of the remaining rounds starting on Fri., Feb. 6, at hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.

The winner of the 2026 Katrina McClain Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional Awards being presented include Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (Shooting Guard), Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) and Lisa Leslie Award (Center).

No. 3/3 South Carolina hosts two home games this week with Mississippi State coming to Colonial Life Arena tonight and No. 19/17 Tennessee visiting on Sun., Feb. 8.

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

2026 Katrina McClain Award Midseason Top 10
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs, Baylor
Toby Fournier, Duke
Hannah Stuelke, Iowa
Laura Ziegler, Louisville
Khamil Pierre, NC State
Maggie Doogan, Richmond
Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
Janiah Barker, Tennessee
Sarah Strong, UConn
Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt