After reaching seven of the last 10 NCAA Final Fours, including five in a row, and with seven players returning from last year’s national runner-up, expectations will once again be high for South Carolina Women’s Basketball this season. A pair of senior transfers, Ta’Niya Latson (Florida State) and Madina Okot (Mississippi State) will certainly play a role in that.

“Coach (Dawn) Staley has set the standard,” said Latson, a senior guard who led the nation in scoring last year with 25.2 ppg. “I knew my goals and I knew my vision, and South Carolina had that. The resources here, even outside of basketball, and the student life were other reasons.”

“I like their playing style,” Okot said of her decision to come to Columbia. The native of Kenya averaged 11.3 ppg and 9.6 rpg at MSU last year. “I felt like being here would align better with my skills and strengths. If you look at (Coach Staley’s) history, she has been able to produce very good foreign players who are doing very well in the WNBA. The love that they have showed me the first time I walked on campus was just so nice. They’re going to help me reach all of my goals.”

While putting up eye-popping numbers last year, Latson understands that she’ll be playing in a balanced system where she doesn’t have to take all the shots, and she’s OK with that, plus she wants to improve her game for the next level.

“It’s not a challenge for me because I’ve played with a lot of these girls before in AAU,” Latson said. “It was a bigger change for me when I went to Florida State and was taking all of those shots. I know what the WNBA scouts want, and I know what it means to be under control and efficient, being able to spread the floor, and make good passes for my teammates.”

For Okot, playing against the Gamecocks last year gave her a good idea of what to expect when she came in.

“They have very energetic players,” Okot said. “They play as a team. I like how they handle pressure. When I played against them, we were up (by 11), and they were able to come back and control it.”

In addition to the team goals, both have individual goals as well.

“I want to be SEC Player of the Year,” Latson said. “I’m always going to bet on myself, but ultimately, it’s winning, being consistent, working on my shot, and being more efficient from three. My turnover to assist ratio also needs to be better and also rebounding the ball because we’re in the SEC now.”

“I want to be dominating more than I did last season,” Okot said. “I want to work well with my teammates. I want to make sure I’m getting all the rebounds, and I want to get better in communication. I’ve watched A’ja Wilson and Aliyah Boston, and maybe one day, I can play like them.”

Despite only playing organized basketball for around five years, Okot is a quick study, and growing up with seven siblings makes her appreciative of the opportunities the game allows.

“It was hard growing up because I didn’t realize what all was out in the world,” Okot said. “My parents had to go through a lot to feed us. I just want to try to work hard and show them that their hard work was worth it. I’ve been away from my mom for so long, and I miss them. I just appreciate them for their support and checking in on me every day to make sure that I’m good.”

Latson and returning senior point guard Raven Johnson were particularly close as teammates in their AAU days, and she’s excited about their reunion as well as her new teammates.

“Thank God I’ve got my point guard back!” Latson said with a laugh. “We just read each other really well. Madina is going to be a monster down there. She’s going to come ready to play every day. We are super excited to get this season started. We want it!”

(Pictured Below: Ta’Niya Latson)