BREAKING: Joyce Edwards Just Ended South Carolina’s Dreams With 3 Words – “I Choose Duke!
The women’s basketball world was rocked today as five-star phenom Joyce Edwards, one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation, made her long-awaited college decision—and it wasn’t the one many expected. In a stunning announcement that sent shockwaves through the sport, the Camden, South Carolina, superstar looked into the camera and delivered a crushing blow to her home-state Gamecocks with three simple, devastating words: *”I choose Duke.”*
For months, the assumption was that Edwards, the No. 1-ranked forward in the 2024 class, would stay close to home and join Dawn Staley’s powerhouse program at South Carolina. The Gamecocks, coming off yet another dominant season and a perennial title contender, seemed like the obvious choice. Edwards had taken multiple visits to Columbia, built strong relationships with the staff, and even been openly courted by South Carolina fans who believed she was the missing piece to another championship run. But in the end, the allure of Duke—a program on the rise under head coach Kara Lawson—proved too strong.
The moment Edwards made her announcement, social media erupted. South Carolina fans expressed disbelief, disappointment, and even heartbreak. Many had already envisioned Edwards in garnet and black, dominating the SEC alongside the Gamecocks’ stacked roster. Instead, she’s headed to the ACC, where she’ll be the crown jewel of Duke’s 2024 class—a program eager to reclaim its place among the elite. For Duke, this isn’t just a recruiting win; it’s a statement. Landing a player of Edwards’ caliber signals that the Blue Devils are serious about competing for national titles again, and Lawson’s vision for the future just got a whole lot brighter.
Edwards, a 6’2” forward with a lethal combination of size, skill, and versatility, is the kind of player who changes a program’s trajectory. She can score at all three levels, defend multiple positions, and has the kind of competitive fire that elevates everyone around her. At Duke, she’ll have the opportunity to be the face of the resurgence, a role she seems ready to embrace. In interviews leading up to her decision, Edwards spoke about wanting to carve her own path, to be part of something building rather than simply maintaining. At South Carolina, she would have been another star in an already-loaded system. At Duke, she has the chance to be *the* star—the one who leads the Blue Devils back to the Final Four.
For South Carolina, the loss stings. The Gamecocks have been nearly unstoppable in recruiting under Staley, routinely landing top-tier talent. Missing out on Edwards, especially to an ACC rival, is a rare setback. But if there’s any program built to withstand a recruiting blow, it’s South Carolina. The Gamecocks will reload, as they always do, and remain a title favorite. Still, there’s no denying that Edwards would have been a perfect fit in their system—a versatile forward who could have thrived in Staley’s defense-first, physically dominant style. Instead, she’ll now be the one standing in their way.
As for Duke, this commitment is a game-changer. The Blue Devils have been steadily improving under Lawson, but securing a player like Edwards accelerates their timeline significantly. She’s the type of recruit who attracts others—future stars will want to play alongside her, and the program’s momentum is now undeniable. The ACC, already one of the toughest conferences in women’s basketball, just got even more interesting.
The fallout from this decision will be felt for years. South Carolina will move forward, but they’ll always wonder what could have been. Duke, on the other hand, has its new cornerstone—a player who could very well lead them to heights they haven’t seen in over a decade. And as for Joyce Edwards? She just changed the landscape of women’s college basketball with three words. *”I choose Duke.”* And nothing will ever be the same.
