Three South Carolina Gamecocks 2027 WNBA first-round picks could be emerging from Columbia, according to Bleacher Report’s latest early mock draft, giving Dawn Staley’s program another reminder of the remarkable talent it continues to produce.
The projection has three current South Carolina players — Tessa Johnson, Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts — coming off the board inside the first 10 selections of the projected 2027 WNBA Draft.
That is a striking forecast for a program already accustomed to seeing its players transition to the professional level. The WNBA’s official draft history includes South Carolina stars such as A’ja Wilson and Kamilla Cardoso among the Gamecocks who have heard their names called on draft night.
This time, however, the spotlight is on a new group.
Tessa Johnson projected No. 7 to Phoenix Mercury
Johnson is the first Gamecock off the board in the projection, landing at No. 7 overall with the Phoenix Mercury.
Her shooting is the headline.
Bleacher Report writer Hunter Cruse described Johnson as the “best off-ball shooter in college basketball,” pointing to her remarkable efficiency from beyond the arc. Johnson led the SEC last season while shooting 44.8% from 3-point range, giving her the kind of perimeter weapon that can change the geometry of a defense before she even touches the ball.
That off-ball ability could be especially valuable at the next level.
A defender cannot simply relax when Johnson gives up possession. She can relocate, sprint into open space and punish a defense that loses track of her for even a moment.
For a WNBA team searching for spacing and perimeter scoring, that combination makes the early projection understandable.
Ashlyn Watkins brings elite defensive potential
Watkins is projected immediately after Johnson, with Bleacher Report sending her to the Chicago Sky at No. 8 overall.
Her road to the draft projection is different.
Watkins missed the entire 2025-26 season after suffering an ACL injury, making her return to the court one of the biggest storylines surrounding South Carolina. Her projected draft position reflects just how highly evaluators regard what she can provide when healthy.
Cruse called Watkins “the best rim protector in the class” and highlighted her status as a 99th-percentile athlete.
That combination is difficult to ignore.
Watkins’ defensive presence can turn the paint into a crowded neighborhood for opposing scorers. Her length, athleticism and timing give her the ability to challenge shots around the basket while also affecting possessions before they reach the rim.
The major question is simply how quickly she can regain her rhythm following the long layoff.
If she returns looking like the disruptive defender South Carolina fans remember, her draft stock could become one of the most fascinating storylines in the class.
Chloe Kitts projected No. 9 to New York Liberty
Kitts completes the South Carolina trio, projected No. 9 overall to the New York Liberty.
Like Watkins, Kitts spent the 2025-26 season sidelined by an ACL injury. Before that setback, though, she had already established herself as one of South Carolina’s most versatile frontcourt players.
During the 2024-25 season, Kitts averaged career highs of 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She also earned SEC Tournament MVP honors, adding another significant achievement to her résumé.
Her value goes beyond simply putting the ball through the basket.
Kitts can rebound, defend, move the ball and finish plays around the rim. That versatility is exactly the sort of skill set that can translate to a professional roster, where players are often asked to fill several roles during the same game.
Her projected landing spot with New York would also put her in an environment where every possession carries enormous expectations.
Two former Gamecocks also appear
South Carolina’s influence does not stop with the three current players.
Two former Gamecocks also appear in the early projection.
MiLaysia Fulwiley, who now plays at LSU, is projected No. 6 overall to the Los Angeles Sparks. Fulwiley’s inclusion near the top of the board adds another layer to the Gamecocks’ growing connection to the next generation of professional women’s basketball.
Former South Carolina guard Talaysia Cooper, now at Ole Miss, is projected No. 10 overall to the Chicago Sky.
That means five players with South Carolina ties are included among the projected top 10 selections.
An early projection, not a finished draft board
It is important to remember that this is still a 2027 mock draft, not an official WNBA draft order or prediction.
A great deal can change between now and draft night. Player development, injuries, team needs, eligibility decisions and the eventual draft lottery will all influence the final picture.
The WNBA’s draft process itself can also evolve as the league continues expanding. The league announced that its regular season will grow from 44 games to 50 beginning in 2027, another sign of the league’s continued growth and changing landscape.
For now, though, the projection offers a compelling snapshot of where several South Carolina-connected players stand.
And for Gamecock fans, the message is unmistakable: even after years of producing elite talent, South Carolina’s pipeline to the professional game shows no sign of slowing down.
If Johnson’s shooting continues to shine, Watkins returns at full strength and Kitts recaptures the all-around form that made her an SEC Tournament MVP, the Gamecocks could have another impressive presence when the next generation of WNBA stars takes center stage.
The South Carolina Gamecocks 2027 WNBA first-round picks conversation is only beginning, but five players with ties to the program are already giving it plenty of reason to watch.
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