Beyond The Box Score: Sania Feagin

As a new generation of post players set foot on college campuses and advance to professional ranks, their responsibilities have evolved drastically. Offenses are scoring at an all-time high, and posts are doing more than ever to assist the process. In today’s game, they’re not only asked to fill the paint or establish position with their backs to the basket. For some teams, they’re the center of their approach.

Fours and fives must make timely decisions, using their size and length to execute high-level passes. With the ball in their hands, scouts seek a comfort zone to create in the midrange and a willing nature to put the ball on the floor when necessary, among other tendencies.

When defending, posts step out to the wing more often to deter faster, twitchier players. While a broad belief exists that skilled footwork in the frontcourt is a dying art, this, among many others, is still instilled in gyms across the nation.

Some programs receive immense gratitude for other attributes, but what gets lost in translation in this new era is that elite, five-tool post players still run the WNBA.

In the last decade, no institution understands this more than the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Fitting the bill of an everyday WNBA post is where two-time national champion Sania Feagin enters the equation.

At 6’3’’ with a 6’5” wingspan, Feagin does all the little things that elongate careers at the next level. Her cognitive awareness when spacing the floor and as a passer separates her from most front court prospects taken ahead of her.

Basketball legend Dawn Staley has climbed many a mountaintop in her career on the court and the sidelines. She’s a Hall of Famer, the second Black woman to pilot a team to a national championship, and the only to do so multiple times. Of her core strengths during her storied run in the Palmetto State, cultivating what WNBA scouts see as building blocks and franchise cornerstones stands boldly on a scroll of accolades.

From key figures like four-time All-SEC and 2017 national champion Alaina Coates, who assisted in jumpstarting South Carolina’s decade-long dominance, to four-time All-American and 2018 Player of the Year recipient A’ja Wilson, the standard is in the blueprint.

Four-time SEC DPOY winner Aliyah Boston and Kamilla Cardoso, who received the same award in the ACC and SEC, were key contributors on two national championship teams within three years because of their ability to be more than just a post player.

As one of 16 prospects invited to attend the draft, Feagin’s dream of being a professional basketball player took center stage as she heard her name called by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Here is where her talent comes into play, which made it happen:

Posts that can’t defend without fouling don’t stay on the floor in the W. Averaging just over two in her last two years in South Carolina, Feagin has shown the ability to do so consistently.

The way she uses her length leaves ball handlers befuddled, and there aren’t many first steps she can’t stay in front of.

After Ashlyn Watkins suffered a season-ending ACL tear on Jan. 2, Feagin’s activity around the rim skyrocketed, averaging 2.1 blocks per game in the first 15 outings in an increased role. Even if it’s not a rejection, Feagin proved to be a tough out for most players.

Some players want it more, and it shows in their work. This describes Feagin to a tee. She slides over the screen, flashing a double, then gets back in position. With an effort level that never wavers, she meets the ball handler attempting to spin off Te-Hina Paopao and rips it out, giving South Carolina the ball.

Feagin didn’t get the block here, but she didn’t need to. Her size forces her matchup into a tough shot, leaning out of bounds.

Feagin’s patience for a young post will be vital, especially on defense. Here, she collects a block by simply extending her arm. When 6’5’’ Aggies forward Lauren Ware regains possession, Feagin swats it away a second time for good measure.

After forcing 6’6’’ Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre out of the paint, Feagin notches a block on Texas guard Rori Harmon. What’s impressive here is that despite getting caught in the air, Feagin doesn’t commit a foul and gets the rejection once she regains her balance.

This was the first time Feagin faced one of the best post rotations in the nation this past season. The task wasn’t too tall for her as she tallied a career-high six blocks.

After the boxout, Sooners center Raegan Beers corrals the offensive rebound. At a moment’s notice, Feagin switches and forces Beers to try a tough shot under the rim for a foul, but it ends up as a turnover.

Feagin has proved to be a dominant denier of shots near the rim, but no rejection is the same. Her ability to do so on the move with either hand as efficiently as the other stands out from the rest. Here, she did so in help coverage.

On the perimeter, Feagin thrives where most post players don’t. As a hedge defender, she’s terrific when timing blitzes with feet that are always shuffling. At her size, she recovers as fast as anyone.

Feagin’s versatility allows her to shut the door on driving lanes before they develop, like on Indiana guard Chloe Moore-McNeil. As she recalibrates, Feagin is with her every step to the rim to force another kick out.

What’s most noticeable is Feagin’s comfort level away from the paint. More times than not, she can’t be sped up, which will come in handy in the W at the rate players hit on different angles, hunting for an advantage.

Feagin was a welcoming sight on the help side for South Carolina’s defense. As a highly mobile post and athlete, she honed her skills as an elite disruptor when the team needed it most.

Whether rotating over to assist with cutters or stepping up and flashing her length, Feagin knows how to be an impact player and never shied away from the advantages she holds to be that.

Weary of leaving a shooter open, Feagin’s first instinct is to close out on a possible attempt. But when the ball lands in the paint on a mismatch, she glides over to help. Denying the pass to the cutter and a clean look at the rim, Feagin forces a tough, one-handed fadeaway.

Feagin’s timing on denying drivers and compiling blocks improved drastically in her senior season. Backpedaling towards the rim, she stays rooted through the pump fake and sends the ball into the seats. In previous seasons as a Gamecock, this scenario would’ve ended in a foul.

This is another instance where Feagin’s awareness shines. When Hall loses positioning, Feagin steps up and swats the ball out of bounds.

Her explosive nature on the help fits the identity of the Sparks’ front court rotation like a glove.

South Carolina has a long lineage of highly skilled passers out of the post who have found success in the W. From A’ja Wilson to Kamilla Cardoso, Feagin is next in line to carry the mantle. As the woman in the middle with Watkins sidelined, Feagin averaged 1.5 assists in 25 games, including tourney matchups.

It’s not about the number of assists she accumulated, but her consistency in finding teammates where they’re most comfortable receiving the ball. At the next level, it’s a wrinkle in her game that will pay dividends as offenses hunt the best shot available.

Former Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley calls for a screen, and Feagin steps out to set it. With Oldacre anticipating the drive, Fulwiley dumps it off to Feagin. Her first option is Edwards, but eyeing another double with Oldacre, she hits Chloe Kitts, leaving her nothing to do but rise into her shot.

In the W, the speed of closeouts is considerably faster. Feagin's off-hand connection on an assist to an open shooter shows an ability to execute with the ball.

With three defenders in her vicinity, Feagin doesn’t waste a second by delivering the ball to an open Raven Johnson behind the arc.

At 6’3’’ with a 6’5” wingspan, Feagin sees spots most don’t and can act on them with her strength and length.

Here, she delivers a strike to Edwards’ right hand, away from her defender, allowing for an effortless layup.

Feagin’s methodical creativity knows no bounds when the ball is in her hands. Demanding the attention of two defenders, Fuwiley takes advantage of the opening and makes a hard cut to the rim.

Aware of her surroundings, Feagin splits two with a timely bounce pass, resulting in a score for Fulwiley. Possessions like this were quite frequent when Feagin piloted the offense.

Some hear the phrase “spacing the floor” and think it solely means the ability to hoist three-pointers. This is far from the truth.

Spacing the floor represents much more than netting attempts from beyond the arc. It’s all about efficiency, getting the best shot, and creating advantages for scoring opportunities. This comes naturally for Feagin.

One area where her floor general habits took center stage is in high-low looks with four out and one in.

Essentially, it’s when one player is in the paint, establishing position and looking to score while four are scattered near the perimeter. The other player involved is near the free-throw line or farther away. This creates ample space for cutters to attack the rim and other scoring opportunities.

Feagin, in this scenario, is usually the distributor. With her size and length, it’s a stone toss for her. Normally ran with versatile forwards like Edwards and Kitts, South Carolina’s half-court offense depended on a strong connection between the three and never disappointed.

As more W teams acquire personnel to run consistent spread offenses, posts have to be able to thread the needle. Feagin’s ability to execute a bevy of passes as she got more accustomed to the responsibility is a skill that will translate at the next level.

Kitts has an empty paint to work with and gets the seal. Feagin receives the ball and wastes no time sending it to the paint. By the time the help comes, Kitts knows where she wants to go with it as she spins for a short fadeaway in traffic.

At first glance, this is a normal possession between two posts. However, what stands out is Feagin’s grasp of where to deliver the ball. She lobs it to Kitts’ right hand, keeping it away from the defense, granting her space to operate.

The little things like this matter because defenses are looking to pounce at a moment’s notice.

Feagin never had an issue demanding the ball to find an opening. In this case, she steps inside the arc to receive it. Teams respect her in the midrange, and she knows it. Gaining the attention of three defenders, she takes advantage by sending a strike to an open Edwards for two and a trip to the line.

Dimes like these come by the dozen for Feagin. She’s comfortable whipping the ball into tight windows from anywhere on the court.

Here’s another instance where Feagin grabbed the reins and took control. With the clock running down, she spots Edwards rolling on her defender to create a gap. She calls for it, and Feagin sends the ball where only her teammate can get it.

This view encapsulates just how special Feagin’s vision is. With the help closing in, she zips a lob to Edwards, who wisely waits for the defender to miss her completely, then goes up for the basket.

The three-point shot runs the WNBA. For nearly a decade, at least half of the teams shot league-average or better from beyond the arc. Offenses are predicated on it with an ideology that three is greater than two. Mathematically, of course, there is no disputing this.

However, postseason matchups over the last several seasons have proven that twos still matter.

Feagin relied on a silky smooth midrange jumper and solid paint work as key options in her scoring attack. In the last 25 games of her college career, she shot 62.8 percent on shots inside the arc.

Feagin and Te-Hina Paopao run a pick-and-roll on the left side, but the window closes. After Feagin posts up, she takes two dribbles before nailing a 10-foot fadeaway in the lane.

In the last five games entering the SEC tournament semifinal, Feagin enjoyed the best shooting stretch of her collegiate career, owning a blistering 72 percent mark from the field. Either Oklahoma didn’t study the scout or figured Feagin’s streak was too good to be true.

With the clock winding down, Feagin pops out beyond the arc, looking to set up a teammate. Aware of the space left by a retreating Raegan Beers, in the words of Michael Jordan, Feagin took that personally. She fakes the dribble handoff and steps into her shot, draining it near the left elbow.

Feagin would’ve attempted to get the ball back to a guard in the past, but the old days are that for a reason. Her confidence in her shot is clear. It also helps when defenders leave a hot shooter wide open where they’re most lethal.

Here, Beers pushes Feagin out of the paint, which was a mistake. With plenty of real estate to work with, Feagin did what she does best in the midrange, acting as a safety valve when needed at the left elbow for another score. In just over two minutes and two scoring possessions, she took what the defense gave her. It didn’t end there.

After connecting on two wide-open shots in the first quarter, it would be wise to assume that Oklahoma would adjust its strategy when guarding Feagin.

Instead, Feagin takes one dribble inside the arc and drills the two-pointer. By the time Beers steps up, it’s too late.

If one thing is for certain, Feagin has no issue getting her own when the time comes calling.

When she wasn’t ready for the lob sent her way, Feagin sent it to Tessa Johnson. As a dynamic driver, the sophomore wing attracts the attention of multiple defenders. As soon as they commit, she passes it back to Feagin for a smooth baseline jumper.

Feagin’s patience is crucial here. When her defender cuts off her angle, she takes her time going right for a patented fadeaway in the lane.

Another instance of Feagin acting as a safety valve when a teammate runs into trouble in the paint. Unlike previous seasons, there’s zero hesitation from Feagin as she rises into her shot.

Feagin doesn’t shoot three-pointers often. She only tallied six attempts throughout her senior season, shooting 33 percent.

However, she’s shown the ability to knock down long twos that could be threes with proper development.

For instance, the placement of the pass from Fulwiley gives her space to step behind the arc for the three. This is another shot where defenders chose not to fully commit to closing out, giving Feagin a perfect look at the rim. There will be plenty of scenarios like this in the W that will serve as valuable in-game reps.

This isn’t to say that Feagin will turn into sharp-shooting legend Allie Quigley overnight. But the notion that some college players don’t shoot threes because they don’t have the ability is incorrect. While her skills sharpened with more experience on the court, Feagin had a role and executed it to a tee, where this wasn’t an expectation. At the next level with more opportunities, this is a part of her game that can be expanded.

Contrary to popular belief, the W is a paint-driven league. Twos still matter, as do the players who generate them most. No example could stress this more than 11-time All-Star and three-time champion Diana Taurasi being the last non-post player to win an MVP award in 2009.

Since the league’s inception 28 years ago, only two other guards have received the award in Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Sheryl Swoopes.

For the Gamecocks, more than half of their offensive output has been achieved through the paint. In her last two seasons, Feagin was a large component in the ability to do so. Winning two national titles with one run being relied upon as a key role player, she brings unparalleled experience from the college to the W, where it matters most.

Feagin’s positioning is another skill that was worked on extensively at South Carolina. It’s the little things that make life easier for rookie posts in the W.

She anticipates the drive, bumps her defender off their spot, and creates a pocket for the ball. Before the nearest Sooner can react, the ball is already up.

Here’s another example of Feagin taking her time in the paint. On a second-chance possession, Paopao gets the ball to her after the seal. Not liking what she sees, Feagin probes for a better shot and finds it after an effortless spin move on the baseline, giving her a clear look away from two LSU defenders.

One area that W rookies struggle with on offense is overthinking what’s in front of them. Whether they’re overstimulated due to the change of pace or a defender’s activity, it shows on film. Where Feagin comes in is her mastery at taking what the defense gives her.

In this clip, Oldacre overcommits to Raven Johnson and puts herself out of position, giving Feagin one of the easier layups she’s converted in her college career.

Feagin welcomes contact, especially in her face-up game going left.

With plenty of time to either find an open shooter or hunt her shot, Feagin chose the latter. Two defenders in her face didn’t matter with a 6’5” wingspan on two dribbles and rose over the top for two.

No matter where she is on the floor, Feagin makes herself available for the ball.

As the Gamecocks brought the ball up the court, Feagin managed to slip behind the defense. Aware of the opening, Johnson zips the ball to Feagin. As soon as she gets it, the ball is on the glass.

When it’s time to put her head down and the ball on the floor, Feagin is on another level. At 6’3”, going downhill, stopping her or inhibiting her flow is a tough task for anyone. Of the many ways she can score, she takes pride in it as a walking mismatch.

This is another area of her game where Feagin’s decision-making shines. As soon as she gets it, more often than not, she knows exactly where she wants to put it.

Facing single coverage, Feagin sizes up her defender, takes two dribbles, and finds herself at the rim for two.

Feagin has never passed up a potential blow-by. She flashes to the top of the key to receive the ball. When she does, it’s full steam ahead as she drives to the rim and finishes with her left hand.

Before blossoming into a W-caliber player in her final year in Columbia, flashes of what Feagin could be at the next level were frequent.

Once across halfcourt, Feagin draws a Tiger out from under the rim to step out near an open Hall on the perimeter. Feagin blows by her defender when the lane presents itself and switches hands for a buttery smooth reverse layup.

South Carolina led the SEC in fastbreak points (17.3) and points off turnovers (28.7) this past season. For a team that averaged just under 80 points per game, the Gamecocks relied on a strong transition game to fuel the

offense. In many instances, Feagin was the initiator or finisher. When locked in on the break, there isn’t much she can’t do on the ball. Whether spotting clean looks for teammates or hunting for herself, she’s in control.

Though the camera doesn’t pick her up, Feagin is the first Gamecock on the other side of the court. Since Texas A&M didn’t get back on defense, Johnson finds Feagin under the rim. Like a seasoned veteran, she waited to catch her defender in the air for two and a trip to the line.

As a rookie, one of the best traits to have is being readily available. Leakouts are easy opportunities to build chemistry and earn the trust of new teammates. This is something that Feagin excels at.

One aspect that doesn’t receive enough attention is the shift in opportunity for college stars to the WNBA. From head honchos to a near-even plane of talent across 13 teams, their shot diets are drastically different compared to previous norms.

With pre-established pecking orders, there’s no guarantee rookies will get the ball when requested. It’s not abnormal to see some even take themselves out of possessions where it doesn’t occur. For role players moving on to the next level, this is where careers are born. Feagin has a team-first mindset and the toolbox to execute it.

In this clip, Feagin called for the ball on a sprint to the rim and didn’t get it. Instead of fading into the background after calling for it again with the same result, she sticks with it and gets it on the third try for a jump hook in the lane.

Running the floor, either as a passer or streaker, is all about timing. Going too slow could spell a missed window, and going too fast lowers the chances of efficiency. Feagin is adept at playing right in the middle.

By the time she reaches the three-point line, she slows her speed, anticipating the pass from Paopao. By the time she gets behind the defense, the ball is in the air for a layup from Feagin.

Leaping in the air for an errant pass like an All-Pro cornerback was Feagin as she pushes it ahead to Johnson. After getting the ball to Edwards, an open Feagin quickly calls for the ball and finishes it. Her ability to rapidly process what’s in front of her doesn’t show up on the box score, but it’s a talent that will aid her as a professional.

Feagin’s dominance as a screener and finisher in two-woman sets rests at the crux of her offensive production. Whether she rolls to the rim or pops out for a midrange jumpshot, her cognitive awareness jumps out at you when operating as a hub.

Once Paopao picks up her dribble, Feagin steps out to the top of the key for the ball and sets a screen for Hall. After the defense keys in on her, Feagin pops out, awaiting the kickback, and nails the 18-footer.

When it’s time to put the ball in the hoop, there aren’t many passes Feagin can’t snag out of the air. After bumping her defender, she glides to the rim for the layup off the glass. Keeping the ball away from prying hands and finishing through contact in one fluid motion indicates the level of skill work put in during practice.

One component that sticks out in Feagin’s paint work is her refusal to allow defenses to speed up her process.

She slips the screen, but the defender is already set. Instead of rushing her shot or kicking it out, Feagin spins off her defender, takes one dribble, and nails the fadeaway.

Feagin has a motor that has no off switch. Seemingly never running out of fuel, it powers her versatility on both ends of the floor. In a league where the game’s speed is unrivaled, this will be one of several reasons she stays on the floor for the Sparks.

Battling to get back in the paint, Feagin catches the roller and sends the shot back twice before Kitts collects the rebound. Before the double has time to form on Kitts, she lobs it to Feagin, who finishes it in one motion.

Feagin’s tenacity on the ball knows no end. Once the double-team blows up the screen, she steps up and rips the ball away. She and McDaniel take turns puzzling a defender with their best impression of the Showtime-era Lakers before Feagin finishes for a layup.

Possessions like these highlight Feagin’s dedication in the gym with her back to the basket. If the shot didn’t materialize immediately, she’d kick the ball out to a shooter. With a refined approach and determination, Feagin sticks with it these days. In this instance, it’s a spinning fadeaway in the lane.

After grabbing the rebound on the other side, Feagin knocks down a trailing three-pointer. She hasn’t made a living from deep in her career, but this is a shot from 18 feet out that she has been able to connect on consistently.

Determining how a rookie will influence a team is a decision rooted in statistics, collegiate history, and need. However, a player’s impact on team success is routinely overlooked in the drafting process.

At South Carolina, Feagin played behind several future WNBA players for three seasons. Despite winning a state championship as the star player in her junior year of high school and a runner-up finish as a senior, Feagin had to earn her stripes in college.

Feagin’s emergence as a high-level prospect was felt beyond the box score. She faced challenges at the start of the 2024-25 season while adapting to being a full-time starter, but thrived when the Gamecocks needed her most. After backup center Ashlyn Watkins suffered a season-ending knee injury, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley turned to Feagin to steady the ship on the interior. Her dependability wasn’t a surprise.

“It’s really cool to see someone go through their process,” Staley said following the SEC championship win over Texas. “The first three years of [Feagin] didn’t quite look, feel or sound like what she was capable of. I never let Feagin play less than her standard. That meant she sat a lot, but this year, it paid off.”

Available in the second round, the Sparks selected Feagin with the 21st overall pick last month. As one of the winningest players drafted, it was a surprise to many that she fell as far as she did, including Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley.

“Our whole war room was stunned that she was still available as late as she was,” said Pebley after the draft. “We wanted to bring some post depth, some center depth, some rim protection depth. But she’s also a player, I think, that has a runway ahead of her that will only expand her range, her ability, and her potential. She’s won 144 games in college and only lost seven. She stayed at South Carolina her entire career. She’s won two national championships. That’s something you cannot dismiss.”

On Tuesday, the Sparks take the court in Chase Center for their sole preseason outing against the Golden State Valkyries. The game is available to stream for free via WNBA League Pass.