Columbia, SC — South Carolina will enter SEC competition without one of its most productive players, as head coach Dawn Staley confirmed Wednesday that senior guard Ta’Niya Latson will miss Thursday’s conference opener against Alabama due to the ankle injury she sustained against Providence.
Official Confirmation from Staley
Following Wednesday’s practice session, Staley addressed Latson’s status directly with reporters, delivering news that Gamecock fans had been dreading since watching their star guard hobble off the court days earlier.
“No practice today, won’t play tomorrow,” Staley stated, according to reports from the session.
When pressed about Latson’s potential availability for Sunday’s road matchup at Florida, Staley expressed uncertainty while maintaining an optimistic outlook.
“We’ll take it day-by-day. I’m hoping, I’m praying. If not, we’ve got to keep going,” she said.
The SEC’s official availability report, released at 8:00 PM ET Wednesday, was expected to list Latson as the only unavailable Gamecock player, confirming South Carolina’s relatively healthy roster aside from their injured guard.
What South Carolina Loses Without Latson
The absence of Latson removes a critical component from South Carolina’s championship equation. This season, the senior guard has posted impressive numbers: 16.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting career-best percentages of 51.9% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range.
Beyond the statistics, Latson functions as South Carolina’s second-leading scorer and plays an integral role in the team’s transition offense—an essential element of the Gamecocks’ attacking identity.
The Injury Incident Revisited
The injury occurred during South Carolina’s December 29 victory over Providence. With 4:18 remaining in the first half, Latson drove toward the basket on a fast-break opportunity when the play went awry. Video replays could not definitively determine whether she stepped on a defender’s foot or simply planted awkwardly, but she lost her balance attempting the layup and immediately fell to the court, clutching her foot in obvious distress.
Staley and athletic trainer Craig Oates quickly attended to the injured guard. After helping her to her feet, it became apparent that Latson could not bear weight on the affected foot, and she required assistance reaching the locker room.
In her immediate postgame interview on the SEC Network, Staley offered an initial assessment of the injury.
“She’s got an ankle sprain, for right now. Knock on wood,” she said at the time.
During her subsequent media availability, Staley provided additional context about Latson’s condition and the evaluation timeline.
“She’s smiling. She got treatment all second half and just walked out,” Staley reported. “I think we’ll look at her (Monday).”
That Monday evaluation presumably provided the information leading to Wednesday’s announcement that Latson would miss the Alabama game.
A Season of Roster Challenges
Latson’s injury continues a frustrating pattern of availability issues that has plagued South Carolina throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Through 14 games, the Gamecocks have begun just five contests with their complete 10-player roster available, and have finished merely three games with all players intact.
The brief moment when South Carolina had everyone healthy came Sunday against Providence—ironically, the very game where Latson suffered her injury. That full-roster availability lasted approximately 15 minutes of game time before Latson’s departure.
Other players who have missed time due to various injuries or illnesses this season include:
- Freshman guard Agot Makeer, who returned against Providence after a five-game absence while in concussion protocol
- Maddy McDaniel, who missed four games
- Madina Okot, who sat out one contest
- Tessa Johnson, who was unavailable for one game
These intermittent absences have prevented South Carolina from establishing consistent rotations and building the chemistry that typically develops over a full nonconference schedule.
Potential Reinforcement on the Horizon
One potential source of relief could come from 6-foot-7 French forward Alicia Tournebize, who officially signed with South Carolina on December 22. The 18-year-old former professional player with Tango Bourges Basket has indicated her intention to join the team immediately upon arrival.
However, administrative hurdles continue delaying her debut. Processing of necessary documentation has prevented Tournebize from joining the Gamecocks thus far, though there are signs her arrival could be imminent.
When asked Wednesday whether Tournebize might be available for Sunday’s Florida game, Staley responded with cautious optimism: “I don’t know, maybe,” according to reports from the session.
Should Tournebize arrive and receive clearance in time, her 6-7 frame and professional experience could provide valuable frontcourt depth for a team already missing Chloe Kitts (ACL) and Ashlyn Watkins (season-ending injury) from their forward rotation.
Adjusting Without Latson
Staley and her staff now face the challenge of redistributing Latson’s responsibilities across the remaining roster. Likely candidates to absorb increased roles include:
Agot Makeer: Having just returned from concussion protocol with an encouraging double-double performance (10 points, 10 rebounds) against Providence, Makeer could see her minutes expand significantly. She entered the second half against Providence in Latson’s starting spot, suggesting Staley’s initial thinking on how to replace the injured guard.
Tessa Johnson: The versatile guard who completed her undergraduate degree in just 2.5 years could shift positions or simply see her usage rate increase to help offset Latson’s scoring production.
Maddy McDaniel: The sophomore point guard offers experience and ball-handling, though utilizing her in the starting lineup would deplete South Carolina’s backup point guard depth.
Ayla McDowell: The freshman’s 37.1% three-point shooting could prove valuable if opponents pack the paint against South Carolina’s size advantage.
The Road Ahead
South Carolina opens SEC play ranked No. 3 nationally, facing an Alabama program that will arrive in Columbia eager to make a statement against one of the conference’s elite teams. Playing without Latson in this critical opener tests the Gamecocks’ championship mettle and depth in ways they hoped to avoid.
Beyond Thursday’s Alabama matchup, South Carolina travels to Florida on Sunday—a game where Latson’s status remains genuinely uncertain based on Staley’s day-to-day assessment approach.
The coach’s comments about continuing forward regardless of Latson’s availability reflect the reality facing all championship-contending programs: injuries are inevitable, and depth becomes tested. How South Carolina responds to this adversity—both in terms of tactical adjustments and mental resilience—will reveal much about this team’s character and ultimate ceiling.
For now, the Gamecocks must navigate at least one crucial SEC game, and potentially more, without one of their most productive and versatile players. The challenge is significant, but as Staley noted, there’s no alternative but to “keep going.”
The coming days will determine whether Latson can return for Sunday’s Florida game or whether South Carolina faces an extended period without their second-leading scorer. Either way, the team’s response to this adversity will go a long way toward defining their 2024-25 season.
