South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley poured her heart out as she officially welcomed one of the nation’s top talents, **Ta’Niya Latson**, into the Gamecocks family. But just as one door opened, another quietly closed — **MiLaysia Fulwiley**, a hometown hero and fan favorite, announced she was leaving.
It was a moment where excitement and heartbreak collided.
Latson, a standout guard from Florida State, had already committed to South Carolina earlier in April, but on April 16, the news became official — and Coach Staley couldn’t hold back her joy.
> “Welcome, welcome, welcome Ta’Niya!!” Staley wrote on X. “Thank you for joining our Gamecock family! I would say @GamecockWBB FAMs activate, but you already gave her your special welcome! We can’t wait to get started!!”
Her message was full of warmth, pride, and the kind of hope that comes with a fresh start. But that happiness was gently overshadowed by a heartfelt goodbye just hours later.
On April 17, **MiLaysia Fulwiley**, the Columbia native who played with heart, flair, and fire, announced she was entering the transfer portal. Her Instagram post felt like a handwritten letter to home — filled with love, gratitude, and a quiet kind of ache.
> “Thank you, Columbia. Thank you, Coach Staley. Thank you to my teammates, and to the FAMS who made me feel seen and loved,” she wrote. “After thoughtful consideration, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal. I’m excited for what’s next… and forever grateful for everything that’s been.”
And in a moment that felt like a passing of the torch, Latson responded to her goodbye with three simple heart emojis — a symbol of sisterhood, respect, and unspoken understanding.
Fulwiley’s exit hit hard, not just for the team, but for the city that raised her. Her departure marks the end of an unforgettable chapter. The streets of Columbia watched her grow from a little girl with a dream into a Gamecock who made magic happen on the court. Now, they’ll watch her chase new dreams somewhere else.
As for Latson, she arrives from Florida State carrying talent, hope — and a heavy heart of her own. Just a day before her welcome post, tragedy struck FSU’s campus when an active shooter was reported on April 17. At least one life was lost, and the news shook the college community deeply. Latson, clearly affected, reshared the emergency alert in an Instagram story with just two words: **“Stay safe.”**
And so, in one emotional 24-hour stretch, South Carolina basketball felt both the joy of a new beginning and the pain of a goodbye. The future remains bright — but for now, the Gamecock family is feeling every emotion at once.
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### **But now, the big questions:**
– Can Ta’Niya Latson rise to the moment and lead this next era of Gamecock basketball?
– Where will Fulwiley go, and what kind of impact will she have in her next chapter?
– And most of all — how does a team heal, rebuild, and chase greatness again when heart and history walk out the door?
Let’s talk. 👇
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