South Carolina has won the last five SEC regular-season championships, including four outright titles.

Three Gamecocks also earned preseason All-SEC recognition.

Forward Joyce Edwards was named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team and received a vote for Preseason Player of the Year. Guard Tessa Johnson and forward Chloe Kitts were selected to the Second Team.

Joyce Edwards leads returning players

Edwards enters her junior season as South Carolina’s top returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 19.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season.

She is just the third player in program history to earn All-America honors during both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

The two-time First-Team All-SEC selection ranked 30th nationally and fourth in the SEC in scoring last season. Her 57.1% field goal percentage ranked 20th nationally and fifth in the conference.

Edwards also set seven South Carolina single-season records, including 768 points, 22 games with at least 20 points, 37 games with at least 10 points, 1,222 minutes played, 40 games played, 40 games started and 289 points scored in SEC regular-season games.

She also ranked among the conference’s top 15 players in rebounding, offensive rebounding, steals and blocks.