South Carolina is in demolish mode. We all know that Dawn Staley & Gamecocks seek nothing but perfection, and they’re doing an impressive job defending their title. Sure, they’ve dropped one game this season, but that single loss seems to have lit a fire —from the starting lineup to the bench.

After falling to UCLA two weeks ago, South Carolina has been unstoppable, steamrolling over opponents. They crushed then-No. 15 Iowa State by 40, handled No. 8 Duke with a commanding 11-point win, and now? They’ve handed No. 9 TCU a 33-point blowout in their own backyard. 

And while the starters have been good, it’s the bench that’s been shining, especially in this game. MiLaysia Fulwiley came off the bench with 20 points. Along with her, starters Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson added 11 points each, and Chloe Kitts owned the boards with 12 rebounds. 

And how can we forget Ashlyn Watkins delivered the third dunk of her career? It came late in the first quarter when she stole the ball from Madison Conner near midcourt, sprinted ahead, and threw down a right-handed dunk just as 6-foot-7 Sedona Prince tried to close in. 

South Carolina opened the second quarter with a crushing 10-0 run, leaving no room for TCU to recover. The Gamecocks’ balanced attack and fiery defense are proving they are here to defend their title. 

Amidst all this, the talk of the night is MiLaysia Fulwiley. This Columbia native and a fearless finisher is at the front and center, and it’s well-deserved. Even Coach Staley sees shades of herself in MiLaysia’s game. “I think we’re both fearless on both sides of the basketball,” Staley said, comparing Fulwiley to her own freshman self. 

“But she edges me out—she’s more athletic, unselfish, and creative with the ball.” And that’s coming from one of the best to ever do it. Now, echoing Staley’s own words, “So when it comes to the edge of being a generational talent, she edges me out by far,” fans share the sentiment. 

Dawn Staley’s mini-me MiLaysia Fulwiley shines against TCU

With 9.9 points per game and multiple double-digit performances this season, MiLaysia Fulwiley has proven herself as a key weapon off the bench for South Carolina. She’s been grabbing attention game after game, and it’s no surprise that fans are saying, “MiLaysia Fulwiley is a generational talent.” And being labeled as Staley’s mini-me by herself speaks volumes.

On the court, Fulwiley’s layups make you do a double-take. But what sets her apart even more is that she is an elite finisher at the rim. She was at it in this game, too. As one fan put it, “Really nice and crafty finish from MiLaysia Fulwiley.”

Fans are clamoring to see more of her and her teammate Ashlyn Watkins. “Wait. So Ashlyn Watkins dunks, and MiLaysia Fulwiley scores, and they both get pulled out of the game???” one fan commented. Undoubtedly, the bench was electric against TCU. The sophomore guard solidified herself as ‘unguardable’ while Watkins lived upto the coach’s demand.

Now, fans want more minutes for these rising stars who are quickly becoming crowd favorites. Speaking of being unguardable, as a freshman, #12 already showed flashes of brilliance, catching the attention of legends like Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant in her debut. Another fan quipped, “Leave MiLaysia Fulwiley unblocked? Big regret!” So, leaving an open path for her to shoot can prove to be the biggest mistake as it did.

Even when she had an off-night recently, putting up just three points, she faced boos with grace. But Fulwiley’s growth mindset is a major asset. “She trusted the process. She’s still trusting it. She’s going to ride her journey,” teammate Te-Hina Paopao said about her. This time, another fan showed the same belief, saying, “MiLaysia Fulwiley is HER! Please don’t listen to the naysayers. Your process is your process.”

“She’s a bounce-back player,” Staley said. This game was a deja vu of her last season’s game against North Carolina, where she bounced back in style, leading the team with 20 points and nine rebounds in just 22 minutes. All in all, Fulwiley is learning, growing, and proving her doubters wrong every step of the way. Let’s see what more magic she brings.