Staley: Gamecocks working to bring ex-players back from Israel

three former South Carolina Gamecocks coach Don Staley said on social media Saturday that the women’s basketball players are competing in Israel, and efforts are being made to bring them home in the wake of the United States-Israel military strikes against Iran.

Staley wrote that Tiffany Mitchell, Mikiya Herbert Harrigan and Destiny Littleton “were in a war zone in Israel.”

“We’re working on a plan to get home,” Staley wrote on X. “Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely as soon as possible! Thanks in advance.”

A spokesperson for South Carolina Athletics told ESPN Saturday night that they had no additional information about the situation beyond what Staley posted on social media.

Littleton made several videos from Jerusalem that she posted on X, saying she was safe, had packed her belongings and was heading to the home of a teammate who had shelter. Sirens were playing in the background of some of his videos.

“I’m just trying to stay calm,” Littleton said. “I don’t really want to be out here on the streets either. I’ll keep you updated.”

Later, Little posted that she was in a safe place and trying to get some sleep.

She wrote on

Littleton played texasSouth Carolina and USC In his college career from 2017 to 2023.

Mitchell played for the Gamecocks from 2012 to 2016 and was a starter on the program’s first Final Four team in 2015. She was the ninth pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft, and has spent 10 seasons in the league, concluding last year. seattle hurricane.

Herbert Harrigan was a freshman on South Carolina’s first national championship team in 2017 and finished his college career in 2020. She was the No. 6 pick in the WNBA draft that year. She has played two full seasons in the WNBA, most recently phoenix mercury In 2024.