Ta'Niya Latson Feels Vindicated in Decision to Leave Florida State for South Carolina

The star guard is one win away from a national championship after leading South Carolina to the title game.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Ta'Niya Latson, a Second-Team All-American who led the country in scoring last season at Florida State, decided to transfer to South Carolina in order to compete for a national championship. Despite sacrificing individual accolades, Latson's decision has paid off as she and the Gamecocks are now one win away from cutting down the nets after defeating UConn in the Final Four.

Why it matters

Latson's choice to leave a prominent ACC program where she was the top scorer for a powerhouse SEC team like South Carolina shows her commitment to team success over individual glory. Her willingness to take on a smaller role has the Gamecocks on the verge of their fourth national title, validating Latson's bold decision.

The details

In her three seasons at Florida State, Latson averaged 25.2 points per game and led the country in scoring last year. However, she only had one NCAA Tournament win to show for her individual success. Wanting to compete for a championship before graduating, Latson transferred to South Carolina, where she is now averaging 14.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. Despite the dip in stats, Latson's impact has been crucial, as she went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line to help the Gamecocks snap UConn's 54-game winning streak in the Final Four.

  • Latson transferred from Florida State to South Carolina last spring.
  • She is now one win away from capturing the national championship with the Gamecocks.

The players

Ta'Niya Latson

A 5-foot-9 senior guard who was a Second-Team All-American at Florida State before transferring to South Carolina to compete for a national championship.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, who has led the Gamecocks to three national championships since 2017.

Raven Johnson

A South Carolina player who has won a national championship with the Gamecocks.

Tessa Thompson

A South Carolina player who has won a national championship with the Gamecocks.

Chloe Kitts

An injured South Carolina player who has won a national championship with the Gamecocks.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was all worth it in the end. I feel like a lot of people didn't understand why I would want to give up my position at Florida State to come here and sacrifice, but this is why. Playing in a national championship has been a dream of mine... I'm just super excited.”

— Ta'Niya Latson, South Carolina Guard

What’s next

Latson and the Gamecocks will face UCLA in the national championship game on Sunday.

The takeaway

Latson's decision to leave a prominent program where she was the top scorer to join a championship-caliber team at South Carolina has paid off, as she is now one win away from fulfilling her dream of winning a national title. Her willingness to sacrifice individual accolades for team success has the Gamecocks on the verge of their fourth national championship.