Why did Ta'Niya Latson transfer to South Carolina? To play in Final Four
Ta'Niya Latson transferred from Florida State to South Carolina to play in big games. Now, UConn awaits the Gamecocks in the Final Four in Phoenix.
PHOENIX — This is why Ta’Niya Latson transferred to South Carolina. It’s not that things were bad for her at Florida State. She played at a solid ACC program that won at least 23 games and went to the NCAA Tournament in each of the three seasons she was there, and she had a teammate in Makayla Timpson that was selected in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
But Florida State’s ceiling was limited. The Seminoles never contended for an ACC title during Latson’s three seasons — despite her winning the Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Year award in 2023 and leading the nation in scoring in 2025 — and never advanced to the second weekend of March Madness. Latson had the accolades, but not team success.
She yearned to play on the sport’s biggest stages. Latson came to South Carolina to play in the games like the one happening Friday, where she and the Gamecocks will take on UConn in the Final Four . It’s the sixth consecutive national semifinal appearance for Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks, but the first and last opportunity that Latson will have to compete for a championship.
“I’m just blessed. This is something I came here for, to play in big games, big moments like this,” Latson said Thursday. “Obviously I'm a little starstruck, but I'm ready to go out there and compete.