South Carolina has secured one of the top players in women’s basketball from the transfer portal, with Utah’s Gianna Kneepkens committing to the Gamecocks for the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot wing from Minnesota, who had a standout four-year career with the Utes, chose South Carolina over other top programs like Oklahoma, Texas, and UCLA.
Kneepkens, who still had one year of eligibility left after missing much of the 2023-24 season due to injury, is returning to college basketball for one final year. She averaged 19.3 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal per game in her redshirt junior season, shooting an impressive 50.4% from the field, 44.8% from beyond the arc, and 89% from the free-throw line.
Known for her exceptional ball-handling and driving ability, Kneepkens will provide a major boost to South Carolina’s already-loaded roster. Her addition comes on the heels of the Gamecocks landing Ta’Niya Latson earlier this week, signaling Coach Dawn Staley’s continued success in recruiting elite talent from the transfer portal.
With Kneepkens on board, Staley has made it clear that she’s not stopping there. The Gamecocks are expected to target big post players in the upcoming offseason to continue building a championship-caliber roster.
