Look, if you've been watching college hoops lately, you already know. Dawn Staley isn't just coaching a team; she’s basically running a relentless, fast-paced machine that refuses to slow down. The latest south carolina women's basketball news is enough to make any SEC rival want to pull the covers over their head. We’re sitting in mid-January 2026, and the Gamecocks are currently 18-1, fresh off a gritty 68-65 win over a top-five Texas squad.
It wasn't pretty. It was kind of a defensive rock fight, honestly. But that’s the thing about this program—they find ways to win when the shots aren't falling. Right now, they’re sitting at No. 2 in the AP Poll, and the "Freshies" aren't so fresh anymore. They’re seasoned, they’re mean on the glass, and they’ve got a 6-foot-7 secret weapon that just touched down in Columbia.
The Big Story: Alicia Tournebize and the Frontcourt Logjam
If you thought South Carolina’s post play was already a headache for opponents, things just got significantly worse for the rest of the country. Alicia Tournebize, the French phenom everyone’s been whispering about, finally made her debut against Texas.
She’s 6-foot-7. Let that sink in.
But she’s not just a "tall person standing near the rim" type of player. She’s got this smooth European touch and an IQ that Staley has been raving about in media availabilities. Adding her mid-season is almost unfair. It’s like a pro team making a trade-deadline move for an All-Star.
💡 You might also like: Why Isn't Mbappe Playing Today: The Real Madrid Crisis Explained
The rotation is getting crowded, though. Madina Okot has been a double-double machine, averaging roughly 14.8 points and nearly 11 boards a game. Then you have Joyce Edwards, who is basically a human cheat code. Edwards is currently averaging over 20 points per game as a sophomore. She’s shooting 62.8% from the floor. That’s not just "good"—that’s efficient on a level that most veterans never reach.
South Carolina Women's Basketball News: The Hunt for No. 1
The NET rankings have been a bit of a rollercoaster. Currently, the Gamecocks are hovering around No. 3 in the NET, trailing behind UCLA and UConn. Does that actually matter? Probably not in the long run.
Staley’s group is 4-0 against Quad 2 teams and has already checked off wins against Clemson, Duke, and Southern Cal. The only blemish was a last-second heartbreaker earlier in the season. But if you've followed this team for any length of time, you know they use losses like fuel.
Why the Backcourt is the Real Key
Everyone talks about the bigs, but the guards are the ones holding the keys to the Ferrari.
📖 Related: Tottenham vs FC Barcelona: Why This Matchup Still Matters in 2026
- Raven Johnson is still the "Point Gawd." She’s dishing out over 5 assists a night and keeping the tempo exactly where South Carolina wants it.
- Ta’Niya Latson has been a massive addition. She provides that "get a bucket whenever I want" energy that every championship team needs.
- Tessa Johnson is currently hitting 13.1 points per game and provides the spacing that lets Edwards and Okot work the paint.
Recruiting Never Stops
While the current season is a grind, the future is already looking ridiculous. The 2026 recruiting class is basically a "Who's Who" of high school stars. Jerzy Robinson, the No. 5 recruit in the country, committed live on ESPN, calling Columbia "peace."
When you have A'ja Wilson tweeting at recruits the second they commit, the recruiting trail becomes a lot easier to navigate. Robinson joins a class that already includes Kaeli Wynn and Kelsi Andrews. Staley did miss out on a few targets, like McKenna Woliczko who chose Iowa, but when you're reloading with top-20 talent every year, "missing out" is a very relative term.
Honestly, the way Staley is utilizing the transfer portal and international scouting (like the Tournebize pickup) is changing how the game is played. You can’t just rely on four-year development anymore. You have to be aggressive.
What to Watch Next
The schedule doesn't get any easier. They’ve got Coppin State coming up, but the real tests are the looming SEC battles against Oklahoma and Vanderbilt. The SEC is deep this year, and everyone is hunting for the Gamecocks' scalp.
👉 See also: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
If you're looking for actionable ways to keep up with the team:
- Watch the Minutes: Keep an eye on how Staley integrates Tournebize. If she starts eating into the veterans' minutes, it shows just how much the staff trusts her.
- Monitor the Shooting: The team is currently shooting around 36.5% from deep. If that number ticks up toward 40%, they become virtually unguardable.
- Check the NET: While the AP Poll is for the fans, the NET rankings will determine their seeding path. You want that No. 1 overall seed to keep the regional games close to home.
The south carolina women's basketball news cycle is moving fast. This isn't just a team trying to win a title; they're trying to cement a dynasty that rivals the greatest runs in sports history. If Joyce Edwards keeps scoring at this clip and the defense stays top-15 in the country, there aren't many teams that can stand in their way come March.
Get your tickets for the Colonial Life Arena games early. They’re averaging over 15,000 fans a game for a reason. It’s the best show in town, and it’s not particularly close.