Earlier this week, South Carolina made a splash by securing one of the standout players in women’s basketball, Ta’Niya Latson, from the transfer portal for the 2025-26 season. The excitement continued with the announcement of another high-profile transfer set to visit Columbia soon.
According to On3’s Talia Goodman, former Utah sharpshooter Gianna Kneepkens will be visiting South Carolina, along with Oklahoma, Texas, and UCLA. Kneepkens, a 6-foot wing from Minnesota, spent four seasons with the Utes and still has one year of eligibility remaining after an injury sidelined her for much of the 2023-24 season. Despite being eligible for the WNBA, Kneepkens has opted to return to the collegiate level for one more year.
As a redshirt junior, Kneepkens posted impressive stats, averaging 19.3 points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal per game. She also boasted an outstanding shooting line, hitting 50.4% from the field, 44.8% from three-point range, and 89.0% from the free-throw line. Known for her ball-handling skills, Kneepkens is also adept at pushing the tempo and contributing on the boards.
Regardless of Kneepkens’ decision on where she’ll continue her career, head coach Dawn Staley remains focused on bolstering the team, specifically targeting big post players in the offseason through the transfer portal.
