Kymora Johnson has decided to return to the University of Virginia for her senior season after exploring the transfer portal. The three-time All-ACC selection will play under new head coach Aaron Roussell.
Key points
Kymora Johnson entered the transfer portal after coach firing
She averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds last season
Johnson visited South Carolina before returning to Virginia
She will play under new head coach Aaron Roussell
Mentioned in this story
University of VirginiaAaron RoussellSouth Carolina
Kymora Johnson
When Virginia unexpectedly fired head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, the program’s biggest star entered the transfer portal.
Johnson — a Charlottesville, Virginia native and three-time All-ACC selection — announced Friday morning that she is returning to the Cavaliers and will play for new head coach Aaron Roussell. Johnson revealed she would be returning to Virginia in a social media post that said, “same place, same purpose” accompanied by a bible verse and two photos: a graphic of Johnson in her No. 21 UVA uniform and a photo of her as a child wearing a UVA baseball cap.
The bus driver for Virginia’s historic run to the Sweet 16 this season, Johnson was one of the best players in the portal. She averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this year, and stood alongside Hannah Hidalgo, Olivia Miles and Liv McGill as the only players to average at least 19 points, five assists and four rebounds per game this season.
Dawn Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of the most recognizable brands and dominant programs in women's basketball since being hired in 2008. During her reign in Columbia, the Gamecocks have won three national championships and are coming off appearing in their eighth Final Four. Staley's trip to Phoenix this past weekend - where the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the semifinals but fell to UCLA in the national title game - was South Carolina's sixth consecutive trip to the national semifinals. And for all the success she's led the Gamecocks too, she's paid incredibly well for it. Better than any other coach in women's college basketball. And more than many prominent men's coaches. Look back at her career in basketball.
Q&A
Why did Kymora Johnson enter the transfer portal?
Kymora Johnson entered the transfer portal following the unexpected firing of head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
What were Kymora Johnson's stats last season?
Last season, Kymora Johnson averaged 19.5 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Which teams did Kymora Johnson consider before returning to Virginia?
Kymora Johnson fielded calls from prospective teams and visited South Carolina's program before deciding to stay at Virginia.
Who is the new head coach of the Virginia women's basketball team?
The new head coach of the Virginia women's basketball team is Aaron Roussell.
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Dawn Staley, guard for the University of Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team poses for a portrait during the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball season circa January 1991 at the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Dawn Staley takes a shot vs. the San Jose Lasers in an American Basketball League game in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 25, 1996.
USA's Dawn Staley during Olympic play against Korea in Atlanta on July 29, 1996.
USA' Dawn Staley, right, and Ruthie Bolton celebrate after winning the gold medal by defeating Brazil, 111-87, at the Atlanta Olympics on Aug. 4, 1996.
Dawn Staley celebrates in the arms of Natalie Wiliams after the women's gold medal basketball game at Super Dome on Olympic Park on Sept. 30, 2000 in Sydney, Australia.
The US Olympic Team, led by WNBA player Dawn Staley, enter the Olympic Stadium during the parade of athletes during the opening ceremonies in Athens on Aug. 13, 2004.
The USA's Dawn Staley jumps into the arms of teammate Diana Taurasi with the game ball as time runs out and dejected Kristi Harrower walks off the court in the women's basketball gold medal game on Aug. 28, 2004 in Athens, Greece. The USA beat Australia 74 - 63 to win the gold mdeal.
Temple University women's basketball coach Dawn Staley grins as her players warm up before practice at Temple University in Philadelphia on Nov. 22, 2004. Dawn has won three Olympic gold medals, coaches for Temple and plays for the Charlotte WNBA team.
Houston Comets guard Dawn Staley brings the ball up court against the Washington Mystics on May 13, 2006. Staley is the starting point guard for the Comets, is head coach at Temple and coaches Team USA.
WNBA star, Temple Owls coach and USA Basketball assistant coach Dawn Staley is photographed in Durham, N.C. on Sept. 6, 2006.
(Standing, L to R) Nikki Graves-Henderson and her husband Edwin Henderson II representing the late Dr. E.B. Henderson, Hall of Fame Chairman Jerry Colangelo, player Richard Guerin, contributor Russ Granik, coach Sylvia Hatchell, player Bernard King, player Gary Payton, coach Rick Pitino, player Dawn Staley, Jim Nantz representing, coach Guy V. Lewis (not pictured), Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva and (seated) coach Jerry Tarkanian hold their jerseys during the announcement of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 8, 2013.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley gives instructions to one of her players in the first half of a women's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle on Mar. 25, 2014.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs during the first half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on March 4, 2018.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley and players celebrate with the trophy after defeating the UConn Huskies to win the Final Four championship game of the women's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on April 3, 2022.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley talks with a referee during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley celebrates by cutting down the net after a 86-75 win over Maryland after an Elite Eight NCAA Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 27, 2023.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley communicates with her players playing Texas A&M during the fourth quarter of the SEC Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 8, 2024.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley celebrates with the team after the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 10, 2024.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley during the second quarter of an NCAA Tournament game at the Colonial Life Center in Columbia, S.C., on March 22, 2024.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates cutting down the net after the game in the finals of the Albany Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y., on March 31, 2024.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the women's 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7, 2024.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley cuts the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the women's 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7, 2024.
President Joe Biden and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley arrive for a celebration of the 2023-2024 University of South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball NCAA championship team in the East Room at the White House on Sept. 10, 2024 in Washington, D.C. The Gamecocks ended their season undefeated and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 87-75, for their third NCAA championship with head coach Dawn Staley.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the East Carolina Lady Pirates in the first half at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., on Nov. 17, 2024.
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley talks with players in a break from playing Clemson during the second quarter at Littlejohn Coliseum on Nov. 20, 2024 in Clemson, S.C.
UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley have words at the end of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3, 2026.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley interacts with fans during practice at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 4, 2026.
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley yells out to her team as they play the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA women's basketball national championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Dawn Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of the most recognizable brands and dominant programs in women's basketball since being hired in 2008. During her reign in Columbia, the Gamecocks have won three national championships and are coming off appearing in their eighth Final Four. Staley's trip to Phoenix this past weekend - where the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the semifinals but fell to UCLA in the national title game - was South Carolina's sixth consecutive trip to the national semifinals. And for all the success she's led the Gamecocks too, she's paid incredibly well for it. Better than any other coach in women's college basketball. And more than many prominent men's coaches. Look back at her career in basketball.
1 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Dawn Staley has transformed South Carolina into one of the most recognizable brands and dominant programs in women's basketball since being hired in 2008. During her reign in Columbia, the Gamecocks have won three national championships and are coming off appearing in their eighth Final Four. Staley's trip to Phoenix this past weekend - where the Gamecocks defeated UConn in the semifinals but fell to UCLA in the national title game - was South Carolina's sixth consecutive trip to the national semifinals. And for all the success she's led the Gamecocks too, she's paid incredibly well for it. Better than any other coach in women's college basketball. And more than many prominent men's coaches. Look back at her career in basketball.
2 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Dawn Staley, guard for the University of Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team poses for a portrait during the NCAA Atlantic Coast Conference college basketball season circa January 1991 at the campus of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
3 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Dawn Staley takes a shot vs. the San Jose Lasers in an American Basketball League game in Richmond, Virginia, on Oct. 25, 1996.
4 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
USA's Dawn Staley during Olympic play against Korea in Atlanta on July 29, 1996.
5 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
USA' Dawn Staley, right, and Ruthie Bolton celebrate after winning the gold medal by defeating Brazil, 111-87, at the Atlanta Olympics on Aug. 4, 1996.
6 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Dawn Staley celebrates in the arms of Natalie Wiliams after the women's gold medal basketball game at Super Dome on Olympic Park on Sept. 30, 2000 in Sydney, Australia.
7 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
The US Olympic Team, led by WNBA player Dawn Staley, enter the Olympic Stadium during the parade of athletes during the opening ceremonies in Athens on Aug. 13, 2004.
8 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
The USA's Dawn Staley jumps into the arms of teammate Diana Taurasi with the game ball as time runs out and dejected Kristi Harrower walks off the court in the women's basketball gold medal game on Aug. 28, 2004 in Athens, Greece. The USA beat Australia 74 - 63 to win the gold mdeal.
9 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Temple University women's basketball coach Dawn Staley grins as her players warm up before practice at Temple University in Philadelphia on Nov. 22, 2004. Dawn has won three Olympic gold medals, coaches for Temple and plays for the Charlotte WNBA team.
10 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
Houston Comets guard Dawn Staley brings the ball up court against the Washington Mystics on May 13, 2006. Staley is the starting point guard for the Comets, is head coach at Temple and coaches Team USA.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
WNBA star, Temple Owls coach and USA Basketball assistant coach Dawn Staley is photographed in Durham, N.C. on Sept. 6, 2006.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
(Standing, L to R) Nikki Graves-Henderson and her husband Edwin Henderson II representing the late Dr. E.B. Henderson, Hall of Fame Chairman Jerry Colangelo, player Richard Guerin, contributor Russ Granik, coach Sylvia Hatchell, player Bernard King, player Gary Payton, coach Rick Pitino, player Dawn Staley, Jim Nantz representing, coach Guy V. Lewis (not pictured), Hall of Fame President and CEO John L. Doleva and (seated) coach Jerry Tarkanian hold their jerseys during the announcement of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 8, 2013.
13 / 29
Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley gives instructions to one of her players in the first half of a women's college basketball game in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle on Mar. 25, 2014.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley against the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs during the first half of the SEC Conference Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on March 4, 2018.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley and players celebrate with the trophy after defeating the UConn Huskies to win the Final Four championship game of the women's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Target Center in Minneapolis on April 3, 2022.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley talks with a referee during the third quarter of the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 3, 2023.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley celebrates by cutting down the net after a 86-75 win over Maryland after an Elite Eight NCAA Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 27, 2023.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley communicates with her players playing Texas A&M during the fourth quarter of the SEC Tournament game at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 8, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley celebrates with the team after the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C., on March 10, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley during the second quarter of an NCAA Tournament game at the Colonial Life Center in Columbia, S.C., on March 22, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates cutting down the net after the game in the finals of the Albany Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y., on March 31, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley celebrates after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the women's 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley cuts the net after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the finals of the Final Four of the women's 2024 NCAA Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland on April 7, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
President Joe Biden and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley arrive for a celebration of the 2023-2024 University of South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball NCAA championship team in the East Room at the White House on Sept. 10, 2024 in Washington, D.C. The Gamecocks ended their season undefeated and beat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 87-75, for their third NCAA championship with head coach Dawn Staley.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley directs her team against the East Carolina Lady Pirates in the first half at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C., on Nov. 17, 2024.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley talks with players in a break from playing Clemson during the second quarter at Littlejohn Coliseum on Nov. 20, 2024 in Clemson, S.C.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley have words at the end of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 3, 2026.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley interacts with fans during practice at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 4, 2026.
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Dawn Staley, hoops champion at every level. See her career in photos
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley yells out to her team as they play the UCLA Bruins in the NCAA women's basketball national championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 5, 2026.
Johnson also ranked sixth nationally in 3-pointers made per game this season with 3.1, and seventh in minutes played per-game. Johnson's points per game average is the best by a Virginia player in a single season since Monica Wright averaged 23.7 in the 2009-10 season.
As a high school prospect, Johnson was a McDonald's All-American, a five-star recruit and ranked as the 24th best player in her class by ESPN in 2023.
She visited Staley in Columbia, South Carolina last weekend, but this week met with Roussell, who was hired away from nearby Richmond to lead the Cavaliers’ program. Over the past several years, Roussell built Richmond into a mid-major power. Steered by Maggie Doogan — who recently signed a training camp contract with the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury — the Spiders won at least 20 games in each of the past four seasons and have gone to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Virginia is coming off its best season in a long time. The Cavaliers made the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2000 and became the first team since the Women’s NCAA Tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2022 to reach the second weekend of March Madness after playing in the First Four.
But a week after Virginia’s season ended, Agugua-Hamilton was fired. A USA TODAY Sports report revealed the fourth-year head coach was the subject of an internal investigation and there were also allegations of staff mistreatment within the program. She went 70-58 overall, including a 29-42 mark in ACC play.
Staley, who led Virginia to three Final Fours as a stellar player in the early 1990s, was complimentary of Roussell’s hire.
“His teams play a great brand of basketball,” Staley said in a statement. “They are always competitive, disciplined and a reflection of strong team culture. I wish him all the best knowing the program is in good hands.”
With Johnson back in the fold, Roussell now has a legitimate star he can build the team around. He’ll retain Olivia McGhee too, as the veteran guard also withdrew from the transfer portal.
