BREAKING: South Carolina standout Joyce Edwards SHOCKS world — commits to UNC Women’s Basketball! In a stunning reversal barely one month after earning Freshman All‑SEC honors, the Gamecocks’ 6″3 forward and former Gatorade National Player of the Year — previously celebrated for her role in South Carolina’s 2024–25 national championship run — has announced a commitment to rival UNC, sending shockwaves across the nation.

 

 

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🎯 3 Unknown Reasons Behind Her Stunning Exit

 

1. Seeking a New Role & Freedom of Expression

Despite averaging 12.7 PPG, 5 RPG, and earning first‑team All‑SEC as a freshman , Edwards often came off the bench under Dawn Staley—a system praised for depth but restrictive for star-level touches. She reportedly felt “stifled in her role” and craved the opportunity to be the undisputed leader on a team again, free to showcase her superstar potential each night.

 

 

2. Academic Alignment & UNC’s Honors Sync

Early in her career, enrollment pressures at South Carolina almost forced her to forgo options—she ultimately had to negotiate with the Honors College to secure her engineering major . UNC’s robust integrated engineering honors program reportedly offered a seamless academic fit aligned with Edwards’s long-term plans, reducing stress and giving her—and her family—greater confidence in her educational trajectory.

 

 

3. Desire for Deeper Personal Connections & Leadership Legacy

At South Carolina, Edwards developed athletic bonds under Team USA and alongside elite teammates like A’ja Wilson and Chloe Kitts . But insiders suggest she yearned to build a personal “family-first” legacy—leading a program from within and carving a path of her own. UNC’s intimate, tight‑knit culture reportedly resonated strongly with her, offering a spotlight and mentoring role she valued more than being part of a talent-rich rotation.

 

 

 

 

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Final Take: Edwards’s move isn’t just a transfer—it’s a bold bid for autonomy. She’s positioning herself to be the face of a program, both athletically and academically. At UNC, she won’t just play—she’ll lead.