The Freshies (basketball)

Developed under head coach Dawn Staley, they helped South Carolina win the 2022 national championship and reach the Final Four in all three NCAA tournaments they competed in.

Forward Laeticia Amihere was a key bench player and guard Olivia Thompson was a former walk-on who received limited playing time.

Considered one of the most accomplished recruiting classes in women's college basketball history, the Freshies helped transform South Carolina into the most dominant team in the nation.

In November, the Gamecocks received commitments from four top recruits in the 2019 class: guards Zia Cooke and Brea Beal, and forwards Laeticia Amihere and Aliyah Boston.

[5] After all members of the class signed with South Carolina, they created a group chat named "The Freshies" due to their freshman status.

[10] Thompson had a limited role but remained a fan favorite, as a Lexington, South Carolina native who had grown up supporting the Gamecocks, and earned a scholarship before her sophomore year.

1 team for the first time in program history, while winning SEC regular season and tournament titles and going undefeated in conference play.

[15] The Freshies helped acclimate South Carolina's top-ranked 2021 recruiting class, nicknamed "The Birdies", which included Raven Johnson, Sania Feagin and Bree Hall.

[20] Jeremiah Holloway of The State described the Freshies as one of the most accomplished recruiting classes in women's college basketball history, crediting them with South Carolina's dominance from 2019 to 2023.