South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley shared an update on point guard Maddy McDaniel, who suffered a knee injury during Monday’s win over Grand Canyon.
McDaniel, who played just eight minutes before exiting in the first half after colliding knees with an opposing player, was seen shooting and working individually in practice but did not participate fully. Staley said McDaniel is “up and moving around” but is doubtful for Friday’s game, noting that the team needs preparation days before she can return.
With McDaniel sidelined, Staley mentioned that the backup point guard role will be shared among several players.
McDaniel, who averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 assists last season, had been one of the team’s early standouts before suffering a concussion that derailed her rhythm late in the year. This season, she and Raven Johnson are the only true point guards on South Carolina’s roster.
The Gamecocks are already coping with several major injuries, Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts are both out for the year with ACL tears, leaving the roster with just 10 active players. Staley acknowledged that with such a thin lineup, “every bump or bruise is critical.”
South Carolina next faces Bowling Green on Friday, then takes on Clemson on November 11 before heading to California to meet Southern Cal on November 15.
Despite the roster challenges, South Carolina’s guards have stepped up impressively. In the season opener, the group shot 9-for-19 from three and scored 62 of the team’s 94 points. Staley credited the efficiency and leadership of Ta’Niya Latson, Tessa Johnson, and Raven Johnson, highlighting their chemistry and aggressive play.
Latson, a transfer from Florida State and former high school teammate of Raven Johnson, has provided an immediate spark. The guard unit’s balance of shooting, driving, and playmaking has given Staley flexibility to experiment with four-guard lineups if needed.
Staley emphasized that while strong guard play can carry a team far, the frontcourt must also rise to sustain a championship run:
“You can go pretty far with good guard play. But, at some point, you’re gonna need the bigs to come alive.”
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