Just a few weeks before South Carolina began its campaign to defend its national title, fifth-year senior Te-Hina Paopao laughed and joked with teammates on the sideline during practice as coach Dawn Staley stood nearby and rattled off feedback to players conducting a full-court drill.

The No.1 ranked South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team has picked up right where they left off a season ago, when they went a perfect 38-0 and won the

Here's what South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley said about signee Ayla McDowell, a five-star recruit from class of 2025.