Dawn Staley has another reason to celebrate as the 2026 WNBA Finals get underway: no matter which team lifts the championship trophy, a former South Carolina Gamecock will have a chance to finish the season as a champion.
The best-of-seven series between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries begins Saturday, October 17, with Game 1 scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Beyond the championship race, the matchup represents another milestone for Staley’s South Carolina women’s basketball program, which continues to produce players who compete at the highest level of professional basketball.
Four former Gamecocks are represented across the two Finals teams. Atlanta features Allisha Gray, Te-Hina Paopao and Madina Okot, while Laeticia Amihere suits up for Golden State.
For Staley, that means the championship series offers a direct connection to the program she has spent years building in Columbia, South Carolina. Regardless of the outcome, her coaching legacy will have a presence on the court.
Four Former Gamecocks Headline the WNBA Finals
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries enter the championship series with different rosters, playing styles and postseason journeys. Yet both teams share a connection to South Carolina through players who developed under Staley or helped build their careers with the Gamecocks.
Atlanta’s representation includes Gray, Paopao and Okot, while Amihere provides the South Carolina connection for Golden State.
The situation highlights the reach of Staley’s program. South Carolina has become a consistent source of professional talent, with former players establishing themselves across the WNBA.
Staley’s influence extends beyond college championships and recruiting success. Her former players have moved into professional roles as established veterans, emerging contributors and young athletes working to secure their places in the league.
With the Finals beginning October 17, that influence will be on display throughout the series.
Allisha Gray Brings Veteran Leadership to Atlanta
Gray is the longest-tenured former South Carolina player currently competing in the WNBA, marking her 10th season in the league in 2026.
Before beginning her professional career, Gray played three seasons at North Carolina before transferring to South Carolina. She helped Staley and the Gamecocks win the national championship in 2017, then entered the WNBA Draft and was selected fourth overall by the Dallas Wings.
Gray later joined Atlanta, where she has played since 2023.
Her development into one of the league’s leading guards has made her an important part of the Dream’s championship ambitions. During the 2026 regular season, she averaged a career-high 19 points per game while contributing 2.6 assists.
Those numbers underscore the offensive responsibility Gray carries for Atlanta. Her ability to create scoring opportunities and contribute in high-pressure situations could be especially important as the Dream face Golden State in a series where every possession matters.
However, her availability remains a significant storyline entering Game 1.
Gray missed all three games of Atlanta’s semifinal series because of a finger injury and was listed as day-to-day heading into the Finals opener. Her status could influence Atlanta’s rotation and offensive options as the series begins.
If she returns to the floor, her experience and scoring ability could provide the Dream with a valuable boost.
Te-Hina Paopao Continues Her Professional Journey
Paopao is in her second WNBA season with Atlanta after being selected 18th overall in the 2025 draft.
Her basketball journey included a successful stint at Oregon before she transferred to South Carolina, where she played from 2023 through 2025. During that period, she helped the Gamecocks capture the 2024 national championship.
Paopao has continued developing her game at the professional level. In the 2026 season, she averaged 3.7 points and 1.4 assists across 11.6 minutes per game.
Although her role differs from Gray’s, Paopao provides Atlanta with another player whose background includes competing for championships under Staley.
The Finals represent an opportunity for the young guard to gain experience on one of basketball’s biggest stages while contributing to Atlanta’s pursuit of a title.
Madina Okot Makes Her First Finals Appearance
Okot’s path to the WNBA has been considerably shorter.
The center was selected 13th overall in the 2026 draft after spending one season with South Carolina. Her selection continued the program’s track record of preparing players for professional opportunities.
During her rookie season with Atlanta, Okot averaged 5.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game. She also made two starts.
Those numbers reflect a young player still adjusting to the pace and physical demands of professional basketball.
Reaching the Finals during her first WNBA season gives Okot an opportunity to experience championship-level competition early in her career. The experience could become an important part of her development as she continues to establish herself in the league.
For South Carolina supporters, her presence also reinforces how quickly players from Staley’s program can transition from college basketball into the professional game.
Laeticia Amihere Gives Golden State Its South Carolina Connection
On the other side of the matchup, Amihere will represent the Valkyries.
Amihere spent four seasons playing for Staley at South Carolina and helped the Gamecocks win the national championship in 2022. The Dream selected her eighth overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft, and she has spent the past two seasons with Golden State.
During the 2026 campaign, Amihere averaged 3.9 points and three rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game.
Like Okot and Paopao, Amihere continues to build her professional career while contributing within a team environment.
Her presence on Golden State creates the central storyline of the Finals for South Carolina fans. Atlanta has three former Gamecocks, but the Valkyries have one of their own, ensuring the championship series will feature Staley’s influence regardless of which team ultimately wins.
A’ja Wilson and Ta’Niya Latson Add to Staley’s WNBA Legacy
The Finals also arrive during a period of continued professional success for other former South Carolina players.
Five-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Ta’Niya Latson are members of the Las Vegas Aces, who reached the semifinals before being eliminated from the championship race.
Wilson remains one of the most accomplished players to emerge from Staley’s program. She won the national championship with South Carolina in 2017 alongside Alaina Coates before moving into a decorated professional career.
Wilson and Coates later won the WNBA championship together with Las Vegas in 2023. At the time, they were the only former Gamecocks to have won a WNBA title.
Wilson subsequently helped the Aces win championships in 2024 and 2025, adding to her already impressive résumé.
Although Las Vegas will not compete in the 2026 Finals, Wilson’s success remains an example of the connection between South Carolina’s college program and professional basketball.
New York was the only one of the four semifinalists without a player connected to Staley’s program, giving the coach a 75% chance of having at least one former player represented in the Finals based on the semifinal field.
That possibility became reality when Atlanta and Golden State advanced.
South Carolina’s Growing WNBA Pipeline
The four players in the Finals are part of a much larger group of former Gamecocks who have reached the professional ranks.
During the 2026 season, as many as 13 former South Carolina players appeared on WNBA rosters across six teams. In the program’s history, 23 players have competed in the league, including 19 during Staley’s tenure.
South Carolina has also recorded nine WNBA draft selections over the past five years, the most of any college program during that period, according to the supplied report.
Those figures demonstrate the program’s sustained production of professional talent.
Staley’s accomplishments at the college level have helped establish South Carolina as a destination for players seeking championship opportunities and a pathway to the WNBA. The continued presence of former Gamecocks across the league provides another measure of that influence.
2026 WNBA Finals Schedule
The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will meet in a best-of-seven series, with the first four games scheduled as follows:
- Game 1: Atlanta at Golden State — October 17, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Atlanta at Golden State — October 19, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 3: Golden State at Atlanta — October 21, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 4: Golden State at Atlanta — October 24, 1 p.m. ET
- Game 5, if necessary: Atlanta at Golden State — October 26, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 6, if necessary: Golden State at Atlanta — October 29, 8 p.m. ET
- Game 7, if necessary: Atlanta at Golden State — October 31, 8 p.m. ET
With the championship on the line, the series will determine which franchise finishes the season at the top of the WNBA.
For Staley and South Carolina, however, the story extends beyond the final score. Four former Gamecocks have reached the championship stage, carrying their college experiences into professional basketball’s biggest moments.
Whether Atlanta or Golden State wins the title, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina players in the 2026 WNBA Finals will give the Gamecocks another reason to celebrate their growing influence on the sport.
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