Joyce Edwards and senior guard Raven Johnson have been named to the 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced today that South Carolina women's basketball sophomore forward Joyce Edwards and senior guard Raven Johnson have been named to the 2026 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year Presented by MOLECULE Watch list. South Carolina is one of three schools with multiple selections, and 12 of the 25 players play in the SEC.

This season, Edwards has enjoyed a career year on both ends of the court, ranking among the Gamecocks' top two in nearly every stat and among the nation's top 20 in key offensive measures. With 1.4 blocks per game, she's ninth in the SEC. With 2.1 steals per game for the season, the versatile post player ranks 11th in the league, including 2.3 per game against ranked opponents and 1.9 per SEC contest. Edwards’ 6.2 rebounds per game include 3.4 on the defensive end. Her 6.9 boards per SEC outing rank 15th in the conference.

Against opposing guards, Johnson's relentless pressure has been the nemesis of either a primary ball-handler or a top scorer. South Carolina ranks 26th in scoring defense and third in field goal percentage defense because of that pressure. Johnson gets 1.5 steals a game, and 70.6 percent of them lead to points. It rises to 85.7 percent against ranked opponents, and 100 percent of her steals in SEC play result in points.

Johnson's ability to disrupt opponents' offensive flow has been a key factor in South Carolina's defensive success. Her steals often lead to fast-break opportunities, boosting the team's scoring efficiency. This defensive impact complements Edwards' contributions, making the Gamecocks a balanced and formidable team in both offensive and defensive rankings.