In August, South Carolina Gamecocks sophomore Agot Makeer made her senior international debut with Canada and led them to win the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament after an impressive final performance against Mexico. Makeer scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, grabbed three rebounds and three assists in an 83-53 win. Overall, the guard averaged 8.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in five games. Makeer’s form was one of the highlights for head coach Dawn Staley’s side in the NCAA tournament last season, so it was not surprising she carried it through the summer. However, Makeer believes the form she displayed earlier disappeared once she entered the preseason exhibition games.

“I’d say (in the) summer I had experience with Team Canada. I played with the women’s national team for the first time, so that was a different experience… When I got here I was slower at the start of preseason, and I was talking to myself a lot. I was like, I can’t be like this, and then it was kind of a switch, and I feel like I’ve just been at the same intensity. I don’t get too high or too low, so it’s been really consistent for me.” Makeer said during a media availability via the South Carolina Gamecocks’ YouTube channel.

South Carolina played two preseason games ahead of the season. First, against College of Charleston, where Makeer recorded 12 points and three assists. Second, against Benedict College, where the sophomore guard scored eight points and two assists. But stats don’t reflect what Makeer told reporters, as she emphasized her focus on staying emotionally consistent, refusing to get “too high or too low” in practices.

It feels like déjà vu, as Makeer had a similar thought process upon her return in December last season after missing five games due to a concussion protocol.

“I feel like at the start of the season I struggled to get in rhythm a little bit… Then, being out for the last five games, I saw a different perspective from the sideline. Sitting next to Chloe (Kitts), still getting confidence from coaches and stuff helped a lot. Once I got up there, I just knew it would come eventually,” Makeer said in December.

This time around, Makeer has no injury to overcome, and her second season with the Gamecocks will probably lead to a bigger role than she found as a freshman. Makeer was usually the fourth or fifth guard in Staley’s rotation, sharing minutes with sophomore Maddy McDaniel. Moreover, Makeer was injured at multiple points during the season. After being out for nearly a month due to the concussion protocol, Makeer also suffered a leg injury and was out for two weeks the following month.

But Makeer’s season changed for the better when March Madness arrived, and she got to show the world why she came to South Carolina as a five-star prospect and was ranked No. 6 in the class of 2025 by ESPN. Following her injury crisis, the freshman received regular playing time and made sure her impact counted.

Makeer started the NCAA tournament strongly, scoring 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the Gamecocks’ opening-round win against Southern. Makeer was consistently one of the first players coming off the bench, and her minutes per game increased to 27. Makeer followed that with a 15-point game on 6-of-11 shooting against USC in the Round of 32.

But the biggest night of her young career came in the Elite Eight against the TCU Horned Frogs. Coming off the bench, Makeer scored a career-high 18 points and totaled four rebounds, three assists, and three steals in a 78-52 win. Staley was also seen hugging Makeer after the game. This performance also landed her on the NCAA Tournament All-Regional team, and teammates like Raven Johnson even called her the X-Factor of the Gamecocks.

“I think with Gotti, she was in and out with injuries. And then we had some other injuries, and she got pushed up to knowing that she was going to play. I do think she’s a different player when she knows she’s going to play. So I think it’s that. And we also just challenged her. We just really challenged her to go out there and be who she is. … Her future is bright,” Dawn Staley said about Makeer’s season-wide growth.

In South Carolina’s loss to UCLA in the national championship game last season, Makeer fought back tears when asked how she would carry her successful postseason momentum to her sophomore year. “I don’t really have an option but to,” Makeer said after scoring 11 points and grabbing two rebounds in the final.

Even in preseason, Makeer was asked if she is feeling any pressure of carrying her NCAA tournament form to her sophomore year, and her answer was reassuring, to say the least.

“Yeah, I definitely think I have to continue to play like that, but also I feel like I’m past that in the sense of like being excited for myself. I think that’s kind of what I have to bring this the whole season.” Makeer said.

Agot Makeer was painfully close to winning a national championship in her first year with the Gamecocks. While that couldn’t be, we will probably see a more mature version of Makeer in her sophomore year, who could also become one of the Gamecocks’ leaders alongside Joyce Edwards. The Gamecocks begin their season in Paris against Maryland on November 2, and it will be interesting to see what Makeer has in store for the Gamecocks in her sophomore year.