South Carolina Women’s Basketball Prepares for Exhibition Against College of Charleston

A key focus for the Gamecocks will be filling the point guard position, as they seek a replacement for Raven Johnson, who has been a starter for nearly four seasons, and junior Maddy McDaniel, who departed the team over the summer. Coach Dawn Staley indicated that the team will adopt a point guard committee approach, with Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, Jerzy Robinson, and Brooke Quarles Daniels as primary candidates to fill the role.

The exhibition will also provide updates on player injuries. Several players have faced injuries over the past year, including Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts, both of whom sustained torn ACLs. More recently, Alicia Tournebize injured a finger, while Kaeli Wynn is recovering from a knee injury. Staley mentioned that decisions regarding player availability will be made by the medical staff closer to game time and that she was uncertain who would be ready to play.

With only six days of preseason practice before the game, Staley acknowledged that the team is still in the early stages of development. She emphasized the importance of energy and effort rather than focusing solely on performance metrics. As the exhibition is intended for preparation, most veterans may see limited playing time.

The Gamecocks are eager for the opportunity to compete against another team after a period of practice. South Carolina’s exhibition is part of a triple-header that includes men’s basketball games earlier in the day, featuring Virginia versus Vanderbilt and College of Charleston versus The Citadel.

The edition of a temporary outdoor court at Credit One Stadium has raised some concerns regarding weather impacts on gameplay. Although outdoor basketball games have been held before, Staley noted the need to prioritize player safety and will rely on conditions during the earlier games to make a final determination. Fortunately, the weather forecast suggests sunny conditions with mild temperatures in the 70s, which bodes well for the game.