Staley, Cardoso, South Carolina WBB pull in 8 SEC postseason awards

The SEC announced its 2023-24 award winners Tuesday, and South Carolina took home eight honors.

Dawn Staley won SEC Coach of the Year for the seventh time in her career and third year in a row. Kamilla Cardoso won the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year honor.

Cardoso was also named to the SEC All-Defensive and All-SEC First teams, while three Gamecocks earned Second Team bids: Te-Hina Paopao, Raven Johnson and Ashlyn Watkins. MiLaysia Fulwiley was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team as well.

Watkins was believed to be a 6th Woman of the Year favorite. Staley said at her press conference Friday that she didn’t start Watkins at Arkansas to make sure Watkins would remain eligible for the award, which requires a player to start one third or fewer of her team’s games (which Watkins did).

List of 2023-24 SEC Awards

All-SEC First Team

Sarah Ashlee Barker, Alabama

Honesty Scott-Grayson, Auburn

Aneesah Morrow, LSU

Angel Reese, LSU

Marquesha Davis, Ole Miss

Madison Scott, Ole Miss

Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina

Rickea Jackson, Tennessee

All-SEC Second Team

Aaliyah Nye, Alabama

Leilani Correa, Florida

Javyn Nicholson, Georgia

Flau’jae Johnson, LSU

Jessika Carter, Mississippi State

Jerkaila Jordan, Mississippi State

Raven Johnson, South Carolina

Te-Hina Paopao, South Carolina

Ashlyn Watkins, South Carolina

Iyana Moore, Vanderbilt

All- Freshman Team

Essence Cody, Alabama

Taliah Scott, Arkansas

Laila Reynolds, Florida

Aalyah Del Rosario, LSU

Mikaylah Williams, LSU

Grace Slaughter, Missouri

MiLaysia Fulwiley, South Carolina

Khamil Pierre, Vanderbilt

All-Defensive Team

Angel Reese, LSU

Madison Scott, Ole Miss

Mama Dembele, Missouri

Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina

Jordyn Cambridge, Vanderbilt

Coach of the Year: Dawn Staley, South Carolina

Player of the Year: Angel Reese, LSU

Defensive Player of the Year: Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina

Sixth Woman of the Year: Leilani Correa, Florida

Scholarship Athlete of the Year: Mama Dembele, Missouri

Freshman of the Year: Mikaylah Williams, LSU