South Carolina’s Opening Week: Standout Performances, Key Questions, and a Flash of Vintage Chemistry
The first week of the 2025–26 season is officially in the books for Dawn Staley’s No. 2 South Carolina Gamecocks, and it’s already clear this team has both firepower and flair. With two dominant wins over Grand Canyon and Bowling Green, South Carolina showcased its depth, chemistry, and confidence. Here’s a look at the clutch performers, lingering concerns, and one favorite moment from the Gamecocks’ electric start.
🔥 Three Clutch Players
Raven Johnson
- vs Grand Canyon: 26 minutes, 11 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover
- vs Bowling Green: 23 minutes, 11 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 turnovers
After nearly posting a triple-double in the opener, Raven Johnson followed up with her second career double-double — and her first points-assists combo — against Bowling Green. Her only previous double-double came against UConn in 2024 (10 points, 12 rebounds).
Johnson’s offseason work on her shooting is paying off — she’s hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc through two games. Beyond stats, she’s looked revitalized by the Gamecocks’ faster tempo and the presence of her best friend and new teammate Ta’Niya Latson. Perhaps most impressively, Johnson has just three turnovers total across both games.
Ta’Niya Latson
- vs Grand Canyon: 28 minutes, 20 points, 4 assists, 6 fouls drawn
- vs Bowling Green: 31 minutes, 17 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 7-of-7 FT
The highly-touted transfer Ta’Niya Latson has been everything Staley envisioned — an elite scorer with a relentless motor. Even when her shot didn’t fall early against Bowling Green, Latson still produced 17 points on efficient shooting and was perfect from the line (7-of-7).
Her ability to generate offense even on off nights gives South Carolina a scoring dynamic it sorely missed last season. As one fan put it, “Latson doesn’t just score — she changes the rhythm of the game.”
Joyce Edwards
- vs Grand Canyon: 27 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
- vs Bowling Green: 25 minutes, 24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
After a quieter showing in the opener, freshman Joyce Edwards exploded against Bowling Green. She sparked a 15-0 Gamecock run by scoring six of South Carolina’s first eight points and never slowed down. Her 24-point outing was paired with sharp passing and aggressive defense, showing just how versatile she can be.
If a “quiet” night for Edwards means 13 points and 5 boards, the rest of the SEC should be on notice.
❓ Two Burning Questions
1. How are the injured Gamecocks?
Maddy McDaniel and Agot Makeer both suffered injuries during the week. McDaniel went down against Grand Canyon after colliding knees with a defender and sat out the Bowling Green game despite warming up pregame.
“We wouldn’t have played her, no,” Staley said. “She’s just loading her up — trying to see how it responds after doing a little more than she’s done in a couple days.”
Meanwhile, Makeer exited late in the third quarter against Bowling Green after appearing to roll her ankle. She didn’t return to the bench, but Staley didn’t sound overly concerned:
“She’s not crying, so that’s a good thing,” Staley said.
The Gamecocks need both players healthy to maintain a strong rotation — especially with Clemson and Southern Cal up next.
2. Great Offense or Weak Opponents?
Through two games, South Carolina has averaged a jaw-dropping 104 points per game while shooting 62% from the field. That kind of efficiency is eye-catching — but also raises the question: is it elite offense or soft opposition?
Grand Canyon and Bowling Green aren’t SEC-level tests, but the way the Gamecocks moved the ball and spread the scoring load suggests real offensive depth.
Staley said before the season, “We can’t rely on scoring 90 points every game.”
After these first two showings, maybe she’ll have to reconsider.
Clemson’s uptempo style could produce another high-scoring matchup, but the Real SC Game against Southern Cal (Nov. 15) should be a true benchmark.
💫 One Favorite Play
For fans of chemistry and nostalgia, this one’s special.
Back in high school, Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson won a national championship running the same simple play — Johnson feeds Latson in stride for an easy bucket.
Five years later, they’re doing it again — this time in South Carolina uniforms.
“EEEEEYYUUCCCKK 😮💨”
📺 SECN+ | GamecockWBB Clip
It’s the same connection, the same energy — just a bigger stage.
Next Up:
- 🏀 Tuesday: vs Clemson, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
- 🌴 Saturday, Nov. 15: vs Southern Cal in The Real SC (FOX)
- 🐦 Wednesday, Nov. 19: vs Winthrop, 7 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
- 👑 Sunday, Nov. 23: vs Queens, 2 p.m. (SEC Network Plus)
South Carolina’s season is off to a blistering start — and with stars like Johnson, Latson, and Edwards clicking early, it might just be the beginning of something special in Columbia.
