South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Gamecocks in the WNBA – Week 17

The South Carolina Gamecocks in the WNBA Week 17 schedule is packed with playoff pressure as the league returns from its two-week World Cup break and races toward the postseason. With only a handful of regular-season games remaining, several former Gamecocks are fighting for playoff positioning while others are closing out difficult seasons.

From A’ja Wilson’s MVP-level production in Las Vegas to Aliyah Boston’s push for home-court advantage with Indiana, here is where every South Carolina alum stands heading into the final stretch.

Atlanta Dream: Gray leads a playoff push

Record: 26-14

Allisha Gray: 40 games, 40 starts, 33.0 MPG, 19.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.3 SPG
Madina Okot: 39 games, 2 starts, 9.2 MPG, 5.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 57.6 FG%
Te-Hina Paopao: 31 games, 1 start, 11.2 MPG, 3.6 PPG, 0.8 RPG, 1.4 APG, 35.6 3P%

Atlanta has already punched its ticket to the playoffs, but the Dream are hardly coasting. The race for home-court advantage remains tight, with Atlanta tied with Indiana and holding the tiebreaker over the Fever.

Gray has been the centerpiece, starting all 40 games while averaging 19.3 points per night.

This week:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Connecticut — 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
• Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Chicago — 7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime

Chicago Sky: Cardoso finishes a breakout season

Record: 15-25

Kamilla Cardoso: 39 games, 39 starts, 26.7 MPG, 14.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.5 BPG, 54.8 FG%

Chicago is out of the playoff race, but Cardoso has plenty left to play for.

The former Gamecock has taken a significant step forward this season, becoming a consistent interior presence while shooting nearly 55% from the floor. Her combination of scoring, rebounding and rim protection has been one of the brightest developments of Chicago’s season.

This week:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Washington — 8 p.m. ET, League Pass
• Saturday, Sept. 19 at Atlanta — 7 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime

Golden State Valkyries: Amihere and a No. 2 seed

Record: 29-11

Laeticia Amihere: 35 games, 1 start, 11.5 MPG, 3.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 BPG

Golden State enters the final stretch sitting second in the standings and already secured in the postseason.

The Valkyries are two games behind Minnesota and two games ahead of Las Vegas, although the Aces own the tiebreaker. Every remaining possession matters as Golden State tries to protect its position and secure the best possible playoff path.

This week:

• Friday, Sept. 18 vs. Portland — 10 p.m. ET, ION/League Pass
• Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. Seattle — 9 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime

Indiana Fever: Boston anchors a crowded Gamecock group

Record: 26-14

Aliyah Boston: 36 games, 36 starts, 27.6 MPG, 16.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 40.8 3PT%
Bree Hall: 4 games, 3.4 MPG, 2.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG
Tyasha Harris: 35 games, 4 starts, 14.0 MPG, 4.2 PPG, 1.1 RPG, 2.0 APG
Raven Johnson: 35 games, 10.3 MPG, 3.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.2 APG

Indiana has plenty of South Carolina flavor, with Boston leading the way.

The Fever are tied with Atlanta, but the Dream currently own the tiebreaker for fourth place. That makes Indiana’s final games especially important. Boston’s ability to score efficiently from inside and outside has kept the Fever firmly in the playoff mix.

This week:

• Friday, Sept. 18 at Toronto — 7:30 p.m. ET, ION/League Pass
• Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Washington — 4 p.m. ET, NBA TV

Las Vegas Aces: Wilson remains the headline act

Record: 27-13

A’ja Wilson: 37 games, 37 starts, 32.0 MPG, 26.0 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.0 BPG, 1.4 SPG
Ta’Niya Latson: 7 games, 7.1 MPG, 4.3 PPG, 0.7 RPG, 0.6 APG with Las Vegas; 10 games, 5.0 MPG, 1.8 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.3 APG with Los Angeles

Wilson continues to power Las Vegas with one of the league’s most dominant statistical seasons. She is averaging 26 points and 9.4 rebounds while playing 32 minutes per game.

The Aces sit two games behind Golden State but hold the tiebreaker. They are also only one game ahead of both Atlanta and Indiana, making the final sprint a high-stakes race.

This week:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 at Seattle — 10 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC
• Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Seattle — 9 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC

Portland Fire: Feagin’s season is over

Record: 16-24

Sania Feagin: 3 games, 3.4 MPG, 0.0 PPG, 0.3 RPG, 0.7 APG with Los Angeles

Feagin’s season has already ended after she suffered a torn left ACL. On3 reported that Portland announced the injury in July and that she subsequently underwent successful surgery.

The former Gamecock was waived by Los Angeles before joining Portland on a developmental contract, but the injury prevented her from appearing in a game for the Fire. Portland has also been eliminated from playoff contention.

Seattle Storm: Cooke keeps battling

Record: 8-32

Zia Cooke: 40 games, 15.1 MPG, 7.6 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 1.1 APG

Seattle was the first team eliminated from the playoffs, but Cooke remains an important part of the Storm’s rotation.

The Storm face a brutal closing stretch, including three games against Las Vegas and Golden State in four days. The official Seattle schedule confirms the Sept. 17 meeting with the Aces, the Sept. 19 trip to Golden State and the Sept. 20 return trip to Las Vegas.

This week:

• Thursday, Sept. 17 vs. Las Vegas — 10 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC
• Saturday, Sept. 19 at Golden State — 9 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime
• Sunday, Sept. 20 at Las Vegas — 9 p.m. ET, USA/CNBC

The Gamecock playoff picture

The final days of the regular season will put several former South Carolina stars directly in the spotlight.

• Atlanta: Clinched, fighting for home court.
• Golden State: Clinched, currently second.
• Indiana: Clinched, battling Atlanta for fourth.
• Las Vegas: Clinched, chasing Golden State.
• Chicago: Eliminated.
• Portland: Eliminated.
• Seattle: Eliminated.

Fans can follow the league’s official schedule for the latest game times and broadcast information. WNBA official schedule

For South Carolina fans, the postseason picture could hardly be more intriguing. Wilson, Boston, Gray, Cardoso and the rest of the Gamecock contingent are heading into the final stretch with very different stakes, but the same familiar goal: finish strong when the lights get brightest.

The South Carolina Gamecocks in the WNBA Week 17 schedule promises one last sprint before the postseason begins.