Former South Carolina Star Mikiah Herbert Harrigan Waived During WNBA Training Camp in Another Tough Break for Her Career
Mikiah Herbert Harrigan’s once-promising WNBA career hit another snag this week as the former South Carolina standout was waived during training camp, cutting short what she had hoped would be a fresh start. The 6-foot-2 forward, who played a key role in Dawn Staley’s rise to national prominence at South Carolina, was in camp hoping to earn a roster spot but instead finds herself back in free agency, uncertain of what comes next.
Herbert Harrigan, affectionately known by fans and teammates as “Kiki,” was the seventh overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. Her selection in the first round was a testament to her talent and tenacity during her college years. She helped guide the Gamecocks to multiple SEC titles and was a critical two-way player known for her shot-blocking, energy, and mid-range scoring. Herbert Harrigan finished her college career with 1,407 points and a program-record 220 blocked shots, becoming a fan favorite at Colonial Life Arena.
But the transition from college dominance to professional stability has not been smooth. After a promising rookie campaign in Minnesota where she appeared in 21 games and averaged 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game in limited minutes, Herbert Harrigan was traded to the Seattle Storm in 2021. It was a move that many believed would give her a fresh opportunity to develop her game alongside stars like Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird.
However, fate had other plans. Herbert Harrigan played just one game for the Storm before missing the rest of the season due to pregnancy. She gave birth to a son in 2021 and did not return to the WNBA in 2022. While her decision to step away from the game to embrace motherhood was widely respected, the time away from professional basketball made it harder for her to reclaim her place in a league where roster spots are notoriously hard to come by.
In 2023, she signed a training camp contract with the Connecticut Sun but was waived before the season began. She returned to the court in the offseason by playing overseas, hoping to regain her rhythm and prove she still belonged at the highest level. Her performances showed flashes of her former self—agile, aggressive, and capable of contributing on both ends of the floor—but it wasn’t enough to guarantee her another shot in the WNBA.
The latest setback came during the 2024 WNBA training camp, where she had once again hoped to turn heads and earn a coveted roster spot. She trained hard and looked ready to contribute, but as teams made final roster cuts to get under the league’s 12-player limit, Herbert Harrigan was among those let go. It’s a stark reminder of how difficult it is to sustain a career in the WNBA, where even former lottery picks can find themselves on the outside looking in due to a combination of roster crunches, injuries, and sheer competition.
Herbert Harrigan’s journey is reflective of the tough reality many WNBA players face. The league, while celebrated for its talent and competitiveness, is also severely limited in the number of jobs it can offer. With only 12 teams and 144 total roster spots—many of which are filled by established veterans and international stars—young players often find themselves squeezed out regardless of their pedigree.
The case of Herbert Harrigan is particularly poignant because of how bright her future once seemed. Coming out of South Carolina, she had all the tools: size, athleticism, a solid jump shot, and defensive instincts. She was a cornerstone of a program that consistently produced WNBA talent under Dawn Staley, who described Herbert Harrigan as a “game-changer” during her college years. Her rise was emblematic of South Carolina’s emergence as a national powerhouse in women’s basketball.
Unfortunately, the professional ranks have not offered the same consistent platform. Injuries, pregnancy, team fit, and the sheer math of roster construction have all played roles in Herbert Harrigan’s uneven career trajectory. That doesn’t mean her journey is over—far from it. At just 26 years old, Herbert Harrigan still has time to find her place again, either by continuing to develop her game overseas or by catching the eye of a WNBA team in need of frontcourt help due to injury or midseason roster shuffling.
For now, though, she must once again navigate the emotional and professional challenges of being waived. It’s a situation no player wants to be in, especially one who has already had to fight her way back into the league after time away. Herbert Harrigan has proven her resilience before. She returned from childbirth ready to compete, showing a mental and physical toughness that’s often overlooked in discussions about professional athletes.
Her return to the league would not just be a personal triumph—it would be a symbolic one for mothers in sports, for players who’ve battled through inconsistent opportunities, and for fans who still believe in the potential she flashed in Columbia and during her early days in Minnesota. That potential hasn’t disappeared. It’s just in search of the right opportunity to shine again.
The league has seen other players take unconventional routes back to prominence. From overseas dominance to standout performances in Athletes Unlimited or EuroLeague Women, players who have been overlooked or waived have found ways to force their way back into the conversation. Herbert Harrigan has the experience, work ethic, and hunger to do the same. It may take a few more twists in the journey, but the chapter on her WNBA career isn’t necessarily closed.
Supporters from South Carolina and beyond are hopeful that Herbert Harrigan finds another shot, whether it’s as an injury replacement midseason or through another team’s training camp in 2026. Her story, though currently paused in terms of WNBA involvement, is still one of perseverance, talent, and the ongoing pursuit of a dream that began on the hardwoods of the SEC and reached the biggest stage in women’s basketball.
Until that next chance comes, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan will continue to embody the resilience that has defined her career—one of ups and downs, comebacks and setbacks, but never surrender. The WNBA may have temporarily moved on, but fans of the game know that players like Herbert Harrigan are never truly out of the picture for long. All it takes is one opportunity, one injury, one call—and everything can change.
Whether or not she returns to the WNBA, her legacy as one of the greats at South Carolina is secure. Her story may be in a transitional phase now, but it’s far from over. The game still calls to her, and if history is any guide, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan will be ready to answer.
