Oliviyah Edwards, a five-star recruit and dunking forward, has committed to South Carolina women's basketball. She previously committed to Tennessee but was released from her signing before choosing the Gamecocks.
Key points
Oliviyah Edwards is a five-star recruit.
She is ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2026.
Edwards is a 6-foot-3 forward who can dunk.
She previously committed to Tennessee before switching to South Carolina.
Edwards chose South Carolina over Texas and Louisville.
Mentioned in this story
South Carolina women's basketballTennesseeTexasLouisvilleDawn Staley
Oliviyah Edwards
Oliviyah Edwards, who can dunk, commits to South Carolina, Dawn Staley
The five-star 6-foot-3 forward who can dunk had coach Dawn Staley's program has one of her final choices during her original recruitment period but Edwards canceled her initial visit in the fall, committing to Tennessee on Sept. 13.
She was released from signing with the Lady Vols on April 7, then visited South Carolina on April 14. She picked the Gamecocks over Texas and Louisville, two schools she also just visited.
Edwards was Tennessee's highest-ranked signee in seven years but was part of the massive offseason changes for coach Kim Caldwell. All eight of her returners entered the transfer portal.
Q&A
Who is Oliviyah Edwards and what is her basketball ranking?
Oliviyah Edwards is a five-star recruit and the No. 3 player in the Class of 2026.
Why did Oliviyah Edwards switch her commitment from Tennessee to South Carolina?
Edwards was released from her commitment to Tennessee and chose South Carolina after visiting the campus.
What are Oliviyah Edwards' physical attributes?
Oliviyah Edwards is a 6-foot-3 forward known for her ability to dunk.
Which other schools were in contention for Oliviyah Edwards before her commitment?
Before committing to South Carolina, Edwards also considered Texas and Louisville.
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She posted a video from her visit with the caption, "sometimes it takes twice to get it right."
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after beating the Texas Longhorns 74-57 in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) celebrates after defeating the UConn Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 08: Ashlyn Watkins #2 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives against Aaliyah Roberson #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic at Dickies Arena on December 08, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) celebrates their 62-48 win over the Connecticut Huskies in their NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026.
Mar 30, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) pushes the ball up the court during the first quarter of the game against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in an Elite Eight game in the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Alicia Tournebize #31 of the South Carolina Gamecocks brings the ball up the court against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 25: Adhel Tac #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during their game at Colonial Life Arena on January 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ayla McDowell (24) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts with Joyce Edwards #8 in the game against the TCU Horned Frogs during the fourth quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Chloe Kitts #21 of the South Carolina Gamecocks celebrates after beating the Texas Longhorns 74-57 in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
3 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
Apr 3, 2026; Phoenix, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Tessa Johnson (5) celebrates after defeating the UConn Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
4 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
FORT WORTH, TEXAS - DECEMBER 08: Ashlyn Watkins #2 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drives against Aaliyah Roberson #23 of the TCU Horned Frogs during the second half in the USLBM Coast to Coast Challenge Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic at Dickies Arena on December 08, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
5 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
South Carolina Gamecocks guard Agot Makeer (44) celebrates their 62-48 win over the Connecticut Huskies in their NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026.
6 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
Mar 30, 2026; Sacramento, CA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel (1) pushes the ball up the court during the first quarter of the game against the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in an Elite Eight game in the Sacramento Regional 4 of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at the Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
7 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Alicia Tournebize #31 of the South Carolina Gamecocks brings the ball up the court against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first quarter in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thien-An Truong/Getty Images)
8 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 25: Adhel Tac #15 of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts in the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores during their game at Colonial Life Arena on January 25, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
9 / 9
Dawn Staley's South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 roster with portal additions
Mar 21, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ayla McDowell (24) drives against the Southern Jaguars in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Oliviyah Edwards picks South Carolina
Edwards is from Tacoma, Washington, and plays high school basketball for Elite Sports Academy.
She is the fourth piece of Staley's 2026 class. She will be joining two other forwards in Kaeli Wynn and Kelsi Andrews, plus guard Jerzy Robinson.
At the time of their commitment, Robinson was the No. 5 recruit in ESPN's rankings but has since dropped to No. 6. Wynn was No. 17 and is now No. 19, and Andrews went from No. 18 to No. 30.
Edwards was the No. 2 player in the class when Staley originally recruited her but has since dropped just one spot to No. 3.
With Edwards and Robinson alone, Staley has two of the top six recruits.
In May 2025, Edwards signed with Adidas which perfectly lined up originally with her going to Tennessee since the brand is becoming the school's official uniform supplier this summer. South Carolina is switching from Under Armor to Nike.
Edwards will still be able to be a Adidas athlete, but won't be able to wear any of the brand's clothing or shoes during games.
Jordan Lee transferring from Texas to South Carolina
Edwards is the second roster addition this month for Staley. Jordan Lee, a 6-foot guard who averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game for Texas transferred to the Gamecocks.
She visited South Carolina on the same day as Edwards.
South Carolina women's basketball roster for 2026-27
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
