On Wednesday, one of the newest South Carolina women’s basketball stars found herself on the preseason watch list for the Cheryl Miller Award.

Earlier in the week, MiLaysia Fulwiley and Bree Hall made the preseason watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. Gamecock guards Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson also made the watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley only brought in one transfer this offseason. Dauda will play a variety of roles for the Gamecocks, including likely seeing time at every frontcourt position. She is one of just 20 players on the Cheryl Miller Award preseason watch list.

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From the South Carolina Athletics press release:

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball junior transfer Maryam Dauda is part of the 20-player preseason watch list for the Cheryl Miller Award, which recognizes the top small forward in Division I women’s basketball.

Dauda joined the Gamecocks this summer after spending two seasons at Arkansas. She enjoyed a breakout season as a sophomore in Fayetteville, averaging 10.1 points on a team-high 45.5 percent shooting, including 31.9 percent from 3-point range. Dauda also crashed the boards at a rate of 6.3 rebounds per game to rank 17^th in the SEC. She came in 21^st in the nation and third in the SEC with 2.2 blocks per game, and her 2.75 blocks per SEC game led the league.

Fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting in each of the three rounds starting on Fri., Nov. 1. In late January, the watch list of 20 players for the Miller Award will be narrowed to 10, and then in late February, to just 5. In March, the five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee, where winners will be selected. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winners of the 2025 Miller Award will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the four other members of the Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard), Ann Meyers Drysdale Award (shooting guard), Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward), and the Lisa Leslie Award (Center).

South Carolina officially opens the 2024-25 season on Mon., Nov. 4, in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas against Michigan.

Continue to check GamecocksOnline.com and the team’s social media accounts (@GamecockWBB) for the most up-to-date information on South Carolina women’s basketball.

Cheryl Miller Award Preseason Watch List

Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama
Madison Booker, Texas
Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M
Andrea Daley, Boston College
Maryam Dauda, South Carolina
Angela Dugalic, UCLA
Lior Garzon, Colorado
Yarden Garzon, Indiana
Madison Hayes, NC State
Gianna Kneepkens, Ugah
Cotie McMahon, Ohio State
Saylor Poffenbarger, Maryland
Temira Poindexter, Kansas State
Madison Scott, Ole Miss
Sarah Strong, UConn
Alyssa Ustby, North Carolina
Grace VanSlooten, Michigan State
Sacha Washington, Vanderbilt
Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Sahara Williams, Oklahoma