Staley Adds Oliviyah Edwards to Gamecock Roster
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley announced that Oliviyah Edwards (Tacoma, Wash./Lincoln) will join the Gamecocks with four years of eligibility beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. The 6-foot-3 forward is rated the No. 3 player in the Class of 2026, a Naismith All-American and a Naismith Trophy semifinalist.
“Big Oh already has a deep toolbox and elite intangibles,” Staley said. “She can score, pass, handle the ball, defend and process the game at a high level. She’s a competitor, a communicator and a good teammate. With that as her starting point, she has the hunger and the work ethic to continue elevating her game. We’re excited to get started with Big Oh.”
Edwards played her freshman and senior seasons at Lincoln High while spending her sophomore and junior seasons at Elite Sports Academy. While at Lincoln, she earned All-Area honors from The News Tribune twice and capped her career as the newspaper’s Area and State Player of the Year. She averaged 30 point, 22 rebounds, five blocks and four assists in her final campaign, guiding her team into the Washington 3A State Tournament. In the 2026 McDonald’s All-American Game, Edwards posted eight points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and a steal. She won the “Thirst for the Crown” 1-on-1 competition and was third in the Slam Dunk competition over that weekend as well. As a freshman, Edwards earned Puget Sound League 3A first-team recognition behind 15 points, nine rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Outside of her high school experience, Edwards was part of the first two seasons of Overtime Select, an eight-team, four-week league for elite girls basketball players 15-18 years old. She was coached by Chamique Holdsclaw at those events.
Edwards joins Kelsi Andrews (Hazel Green, AL/IMG Academy), Jerzy Robinson (Chatsworth, CA/Sierra Canyon) and Kaeli Wynn (Santa Ana, CA/Mater Dei) in the Gamecocks’ 2026 Class. Junior transfer Jordan Lee (Stockton, Calif./Texas) is also new to the Gamecocks’ 2026-27 roster.
