South Carolina's Walker returning for final season

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sakima Walker is returning for a final season with defending national champion South Carolina, she announced Tuesday on social media.

Walker is a 6-foot-5 forward who came to the Gamecocks a year ago as the junior college player of the year from Northwest Florida.

“One more,” Walker said on her social media post, a minute-long video of highlights that ended with the words, “Run It Back.”

Walker made one start last season, averaging seven minutes per contest in 31 games. Walker's return is a boost for the Gamecocks who lost their leading scorer in 6-7 Kamilla Cardoso to the WNBA, where she was taken No. 3 overall by the Chicago Sky.

Walker, from Columbus, Ohio, spent two seasons at Rutgers before playing at Northwest Florida. She joined the Gamecocks last season.

South Carolina went 38-0 last season, becoming the 10th undefeated national champion after its 87-75 victory over Iowa in the NCAA Tournament title game in April.

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