Coach Dawn Staley mobilizes efforts to safely return former Gamecocks home from a volatile war zone in Israel.
Three former South Carolina women's basketball players are in Israel with missiles going off around them and no clear way out.
Dawn Staley said Saturday she is working to get them home. The South Carolina coach posted on X naming the three — Tiffany Mitchell, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan and Destiny Littleton — and asking for prayers. All three are playing professionally in Israeli basketball leagues. The situation deteriorated sharply after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iranian targets drew retaliatory fire across the region.
"Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel," Staley wrote. "We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap!"
Littleton was taking shelter during air-raid alerts Saturday and posting about it. The guard, who plays for Hapoel Lev Jerusalem, called it "unfortunate" in her social media videos but said she was safe. She spent three seasons at South Carolina and was on the roster for back-to-back Final Four appearances. She also won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2017 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup.
Mitchell reshared Staley's post with a praying hands emoji and said nothing else. She split last season between the Las Vegas Aces and Seattle Storm and has played overseas most winters throughout her eight-year WNBA career. She recently announced a deal with Beijing Great Wall in China, though her situation with her Israeli club on Saturday was unclear. Mitchell previously won a domestic championship during an earlier stint playing in Israel.
Herbert Harrigan reshared the post too, also without comment. The sixth overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft is with Elitzur Ramla this season after stints with the Phoenix Mercury, Dallas Wings, and others. She has spent several seasons building an overseas career alongside her WNBA work.
South Carolina has not put out a statement. Israeli women's league officials have not addressed what happens to American players caught in the country right now.
The strikes came on Saturday. The U.S. and Israel hit Iranian targets, Iran fired back, and reports of missiles landing inside Israel and near American assets came in through the afternoon. Officials said no Americans were killed.
Israel has been a go-to destination for WNBA players in the offseason for years. The contracts are good, and the competition keeps players sharp between seasons. Right now, none of that is the point.
Staley's post spread quickly across the sport. For the three former Gamecocks still on the ground Saturday, getting home was the only thing that mattered.