Dawn Staley knows a thing or two about patience—and this time, it’s paid off in a big way for South Carolina women’s basketball.

Last fall, Gamecocks fans were starting to sweat. The top recruits were slipping through their fingers: No. 1 overall recruit Saniyah Hall visited campus but chose USC; No. 2 Olivia Vukosa picked UConn despite having South Carolina in her final five; No. 7 McKenna Woliczko was heavily recruited by Staley but committed to Iowa; and No. 3 Oliviyah Edwards canceled a planned September visit to commit to Tennessee just six days beforehand.

By early October, the 2026 recruiting class was empty. But Staley, a master recruiter with a championship pedigree, didn’t panic. She started building from the ground up, landing four-star forward Kelsi Andrews first. At SEC Media Days, Staley even joked about having just one commit when asked about recruiting—showing the calm confidence of a coach who’s been here before.

Then, the momentum shifted. Five-star forward Kaeli Wynn committed in November, giving the class a major boost. And just before Christmas, Staley landed the crown jewel: five-star prospect Jerzy Robinson.

What started as a slow burn has turned into one of the most loaded 2026 classes in the country. For Gamecocks fans, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best recruiting moves are the ones you wait for.