Entering April, the South Carolina Gamecocks’ sophomore guard praised her HC, “Dawn Staley is a great recruiter. She knows what she’s doing when she recruits these people. We all fit together perfectly.” While the dream to chase a consecutive National Championship broke for Dawn Staley once again, she seemingly picked herself up and brushed the dust off for a new day. But then came an unexpected news when just a week ago, MiLaysia Fulwiley’s Instagram post read: “After thoughtful consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal.” Over her first two collegiate seasons, Fulwiley has been a rock for the South Carolina Gamecocks. And after winning a championship, the reigning Sixth Player of the Year is looking for another home. And sure, there are some reasons we can think of.

Fulwiley has been the second-best scorer (11.7 ppg) for the Gamecocks. However, she has only come off of the bench for a majority of her two seasons in Columbia. Certainly, the impactful player is looking going on a route like the now-WNBA rookie Hailey Van Lith, fellow baller Olivia Miles, and many others have taken– going to a non-blue blood roster to become a standout star. However, was this the only reason why the hometown hero left her home and a head coach for who she once said, “The standard that Dawn has got here is great, and I think every player should want to play under this standard,” or do we have more reasons? Well, we do have a tweet by the HC.

Back on April 8, Dawn Staley tweeted, “A birdie just flew in nest!!  🐔🐔🐔” After losing fifth-year Sakima Walker, the Hall of Famer had brought in a huge star in the making and NCAA D-I’s leading scorer (25.2 ppg) from Florida State: Ta’Niya Latson. Interestingly, the guard had shared the hardwood with Fulwiley and also Raven Johnson before. But just a few days after her entry, Fulwiley penned her goodbye to her hometown. And if you think there is something brewing, you’d be aligning with what Jordan Robinson is thinking as well.

On a recent episode of the Women’s Hoops Show, Jordan said, “Let’s start with Ta’Niya Latson. Florida State, leading scorer for D-I, 25.2 points a game, she’s going to South Carolina. This was a little bit of a domino effect, Autumn, because this is a commitment that kind of pushed MiLaysia Fulwiley into the transfer portal because we didn’t really know how these two were going to play with each other.”

Latson’s commitment felt almost inevitable after Florida State’s season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA tournament with a loss to LSU. But there’s more to the story of why Latson’s move to South Carolina made so much sense. To understand it fully, we have to rewind to Latson’s high school days. She built a decorated prep career across Florida and Georgia, stacking state championships and shining on the national stage at GEICO Nationals. Whether it was teaming up with Raven Johnson at Westlake or closing out her high school career with a state title at American Heritage, Latson consistently played at an elite level.

But she wasn’t the only rising star at the time. Alongside her story was MiLaysia Fulwiley’s—a prodigy out of Columbia, South Carolina. By seventh grade, Fulwiley was already helping Keenan High capture a state championship, and she didn’t stop there. She went on to win four state titles and became the school’s all-time leading scorer before graduating. As both players dominated in their respective regions, it was only natural their paths would eventually cross—and they did.

When Jordan asked Autumn if she agreed with her theory. Autumn replied, “Yeah, completely.” She further added, “These players have played with each other during AAU, so I want to say the chemistry is there. But for MiLaysia to now try to have a new chapter for herself, I think that’s just her saying ‘Hey, I’m ready to be a prominent star. She was eighth on South Carolina’s entire team in minutes, averaging nearly 19 minutes per game coming off the bench as a number two scorer. And this is a statement overall saying, ‘Hey, I’m ready to be a star.’ And I think it all goes with fit.

“She has lot of schools who are interested in her but she has a ‘no-contact’ listed for her to come in and possibly start  a new chapter with another team. So, I’m excited to see who that new fit would be because MiLaysia is a player that has a unique flair to her, she has walking highlight dangerous in the open court.”

On the AAU circuit, Fulwiley and Latson’s talents made them prime targets for elite travel teams as they formed one of the most electrifying backcourts in grassroots hoops. Fulwiley brought flair and creativity; Latson brought scoring and grit. The chemistry? Instant.

Years passed, and their paths diverged again. Latson made an immediate impact at Florida State. Fulwiley, meanwhile, played a major role at South Carolina, averaging 11.7 points per game. So when Latson entered the transfer portal this offseason, her eventual landing at South Carolina felt like a full-circle moment. A backcourt reunion that could dominate the SEC. But things took a turn no one quite expected—because after Latson’s arrival, Fulwiley entered the portal herself.

As for Latson, Fulwiley’s departure may have stung. When news of the transfer broke, Latson’s simple response—three heart emojis—said it all. But she needn’t worry. There’s already another talented player and former teammate ready to have her back.

Raven Johnson to the rescue

When Ta’Niya Latson entered the transfer portal, it didn’t take long for the rumors to swirl, but the most genuine recruiting pitch came from Raven Johnson. Long before their names lit up college basketball, they were carving out a dynasty together at Westlake High School in Atlanta.

Raven and Ta’Niya shared the court for three years in high school, winning three state championships. During that time, Westlake posted an eye-popping 82–2 record with them leading the charge. Their connection on the court wasn’t something you could coach into existence. It was instinctual. They moved like they were synced, reading each other’s movements and anticipating decisions before they happened. Just ask Hilda Hankerson, who described them as “joined at the hip.”

Now, after years apart, they’re reuniting at South Carolina, and it’s more than just a feel-good story. It could be one of the most explosive backcourt pairings in the nation.

I mean, why not? Raven knows exactly how Ta’Niya likes the ball, where she’s most dangerous on the court, and knows how to open up lanes for her to attack. And Ta’Niya knows when to leak out, how to run the floor, and when to trust Raven to deliver a pass no one else can see. That understanding is going to give South Carolina an immediate edge.

Raven said it best herself when she heard Latson was in the portal: “I’d tell her, let’s run it back.” That’s more than just a catchphrase. It’s a warning to the rest of the NCAA. When two players like this come together again, backed by experience, chemistry, and a hunger to win, there’s no telling just how far they’ll go.

So… is it a threat or a mistake for Fulwiley?