Gamecock Forward Joyce Edwards on winning the gold medal with Team USA in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup!
Fresh off a summer to remember, Joyce Edwards, the heralded freshman forward for the South Carolina Gamecocks, is riding high after helping Team USA capture gold at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Just months before she suits up for the Gamecocks in what many expect to be a breakthrough college debut, Edwards has already stamped her name on the international stage.
Representing the United States on any level is an honor few athletes ever experience. For Edwards, the opportunity to don the red, white, and blue as a teenager and come home with a gold medal was both humbling and transformative.
“It was surreal,” said Edwards. “To stand on that podium, hear the anthem, and know we did it for our country—there’s no better feeling.”
Joyce Edwards has long been viewed as one of the top high school basketball players in the country, and her commitment to South Carolina—a program synonymous with excellence under head coach Dawn Staley—was a major recruiting win.
But it’s her play in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, against elite international competition, that truly showcased her readiness to make an immediate impact at the collegiate level.
In seven games, Edwards averaged:
- 13.4 points per game
- 6.2 rebounds
- 1.7 steals
- 1.1 blocks
- Shooting 52% from the field and nearly 80% from the free-throw line
She was a consistent force for Team USA on both ends, drawing praise for her defensive versatility, rebounding instincts, and ability to score in transition or half-court sets.
“Joyce was a tone-setter for us,” said Team USA head coach Cori Close. “She plays with an intensity and maturity you don’t usually see in players her age.”
Team USA entered the 2025 Women’s AmeriCup as one of the tournament favorites, but the path to the title wasn’t smooth. A loaded field included traditional powers like Brazil, Canada, and host nation Argentina, all fielding teams stacked with pro and collegiate-level talent.
Edwards made her presence felt early in pool play, scoring 18 points in the opener against Puerto Rico and grabbing 9 rebounds in a gritty win over Colombia. Her best game arguably came in the semifinals against Brazil, where she recorded a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) and held Brazil’s top scorer to just 4 points.
In the gold medal game against Canada, Edwards delivered again—finishing with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals in a dominant 74–59 Team USA victory. Her energy set the tone defensively, and her ability to finish around the rim helped the Americans pull away in the second half.
“Everyone stepped up,” Edwards said. “But we knew we had each other’s backs. It felt like family out there.”
For Edwards, the AmeriCup experience wasn’t just about winning—it was about growing.
The international game presents different challenges: a 24-second shot clock, physical post play, and more compact zones. But Edwards adapted quickly, showing an ability to read defenses, rotate smartly, and impact the game without forcing shots.
Staley, who coached Team USA to Olympic gold and remains heavily involved with USA Basketball, was thrilled to see her newest freshman embrace the challenge.
“Joyce doesn’t back down,” Staley said. “She wants the smoke. That’s the kind of player we want at South Carolina.”
The Gamecocks have prided themselves on developing Team USA talent—A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and Destanni Henderson all wore the stars and stripes. Edwards is now part of that lineage.
With summer workouts underway, Edwards returns to Columbia not just as a highly touted recruit, but as a gold medalist—and with it, a level of confidence and experience few freshmen possess.
“I know what it’s like now to play under pressure, to face older players, and to have to deliver,” she said. “I’m ready for whatever the SEC throws at me.”
She’s expected to be a key part of a South Carolina frontcourt rotation that includes Ashlyn Watkins, Sania Feagin, and Tessa Johnson. Her versatility at the 3 and 4 positions gives Coach Staley more lineup flexibility, especially as the Gamecocks look to maintain their up-tempo, switch-everything defensive identity.
Teammates have already taken notice.
“She’s got that dog in her,” said Watkins. “She’s not just talented—she’s fearless.”
Even before her arrival on campus, Edwards was a fan favorite. The in-state phenom from Camden, South Carolina, had fans buzzing from the moment she signed her letter of intent.
Now, she returns to Columbia with international hardware, and expectations for her freshman year are skyrocketing. South Carolina fans are known for their passion—and they’ll be packing Colonial Life Arena to see their latest superstar in action.
Social media lit up following the AmeriCup final, with hashtags like #EdwardsEra and #JoyceGold trending across Gamecock Nation.
“She’s next,” one fan posted. “You can feel it. A’ja passed the torch to Boston, Boston to Kamilla, and now it’s Joyce’s turn.”
As the fall semester approaches, Edwards is balancing academics, team workouts, and the ever-rising expectations that come with wearing garnet and black.
The SEC schedule will be brutal, with matchups against LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and an always-dangerous Georgia squad. But Edwards has faced pressure and risen to the moment before—and few doubt she’ll do it again.
In a South Carolina system that values grit, rebounding, and defensive pride, Edwards is tailor-made for success. Her ability to guard 1–4, crash the boards, and run the floor in transition is already drawing comparisons to South Carolina legends.
“She reminds me a little of A’ja with how smooth she is on the move,” said one SEC assistant. “But she’s got her own edge, her own identity. She’s the kind of player who can take over a game by doing the dirty work.”
Edwards’ success further cements South Carolina’s position as a pipeline to USA Basketball, a point of pride for Staley and her staff.
Over the last decade, no college program has contributed more top-level players to Team USA camps and rosters. That credibility helps in recruiting, development, and post-collegiate success.
“When you come to South Carolina, you’re not just getting coached—you’re getting prepared for the world stage,” said assistant coach Jolette Law.
With the 2026 Olympics looming and a new wave of young talent coming through the ranks, Edwards may soon have more opportunities to represent her country. And if her AmeriCup debut was any indication, she’s more than ready.
As she returns to Columbia, Edwards remains grounded. She speaks with gratitude, humility, and the clear-headed focus of someone who knows the work is far from done.
“The gold medal means a lot,” she said. “But it’s just the beginning. I want to help bring championships to South Carolina. That’s why I came here.”
When asked what she learned most from the AmeriCup experience, Edwards paused before replying.
“It taught me how to lead—even when you’re the youngest. It showed me how much energy and attitude matter. And it reminded me that basketball is bigger than just me. It’s about representing something greater.”
Joyce Edwards’ gold medal win with Team USA at the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup was more than just a personal milestone—it was a powerful debut on the global stage for a player destined to become a college basketball star.
Now back at South Carolina, she brings experience, toughness, and a winning mindset that will help shape the Gamecocks’ 2025–26 season. For fans in Columbia and across the SEC, the message is clear:
Joyce Edwards has arrived.
And she brought gold with her.
