Rusty Weiss
Three former South Carolina Gamecocks turned professional basketball players—WNBA veteran Tiffany Mitchell, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Destiny Littleton—are currently stranded in Israel following joint U.S.-Israel military strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions.
The trio, who are playing in Israel’s women’s basketball league during the WNBA offseason, found themselves in what South Carolina coach Dawn Staley described as a “war zone” after the attacks intensified over the weekend.
“Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel,” Staley said Saturday on X . “We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance.”
On Sunday, she urged followers to keep praying.
“Thank you, everyone, for praying for our @GamecockWBB players and family members,” she said. “Please keep them covered in prayer until they are home!”
Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel!! We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) February 28, 2026
WNBA Players Stuck in Israel Await Evacuation Amid Escalating Conflict
Mitchell, who played last season with the Seattle Storm, Herbert Harrigan (formerly with the Phoenix Mercury), and Littleton have been navigating shelter-in-place protocols, air-raid sirens, and missile threats while attempting to secure safe passage home.
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Littleton, a 2022 national champion under Staley, has shared updates from Jerusalem, including videos showing her packing belongings and moving to a teammate’s shelter-equipped home.
She maintains that the group remains safe for now but faces ongoing uncertainty.
Update : I’m safe pic.twitter.com/OioW4Auyfu
— Destiny Littleton (@dstnylttltn24) February 28, 2026
Staley and university officials continue working on logistics for their safe return, as the players await flights or other arrangements amid disrupted travel and heightened security measures. She notes that they’re “getting some help” from people in decision-making positions, though progress is slow.
Prayers and support from the basketball community have poured in.
That said, the conflict may keep them there for some time. The U.S. and Israel have conducted over 2,000 strikes on Iranian targets since Saturday, with President Trump stating the campaign, aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, could last four to five weeks or longer.
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel, U.S. assets in Gulf states, and other regional targets. Hezbollah has joined the fray with attacks on northern Israel, escalating the conflict into its third day.
Hopefully, these ladies can return home soon.