South Carolina women’s basketball secured its first commitment for the Class of 2025 on Thursday, with five-star prospect Ayla McDowell choosing to join Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks during a ceremony at her school.
After her announcement, McDowell told VYPE Magazine, “I loved everything. It’s important to me to be happy wherever I go, and I felt happy there. I was surrounded by great teammates and coaches, and I felt comfortable. I just loved it there.”
Hailing from Cypress Hill High School in Texas, McDowell is ranked as the 20th player in the nation by ESPN’s HoopGurlz. She can officially sign with USC starting on Nov. 15, the first day of the signing period for basketball.
The 6-foot-2 athlete chose South Carolina over offers from Georgia Tech, Florida, TCU, LSU, and Mississippi State. She recently completed her official visit to USC, which she noted would be her last. During that visit, she attended the Gamecocks’ home football game against Ole Miss on Oct. 5. McDowell also explored Texas A&M, Houston, and Baylor.
As a junior, she averaged 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 2.4 assists, helping her team achieve a 30-3 record and reach the third round of the playoffs. This summer, she played for CyFair Elite, leading them to victory in the NIKE EYBL AAU circuit championship, and represented Brazil in the AmeriCup Women’s 18U championship, where she averaged 14.8 points and 7.7 rebounds.
South Carolina will need to address roster gaps, as four players are in their final year of eligibility, and two others, including Raven Johnson, may opt to forgo their final year.
