Columbia, SC — With South Carolina women’s basketball preparing to launch its SEC championship pursuit, head coach Dawn Staley met with media members Wednesday to discuss the team’s readiness, injury situations, and approach to conference play as the No. 3 Gamecocks prepare to face Alabama at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
Setting the Stage for SEC Play
The Wednesday media session provided Staley an opportunity to address the challenges and expectations surrounding South Carolina’s conference opener, which marks a critical transition from nonconference competition to the grueling SEC schedule that will ultimately define the Gamecocks’ season and championship aspirations.
Game Details Confirmed
Staley’s media availability confirmed essential information for fans and media covering the contest:
Tip-off Time: 2:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Location: Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, South Carolina
Significance: SEC opener for both teams, marking the beginning of conference play
The New Year’s Day timing creates unique circumstances, with teams navigating holiday schedules, family time, and the mental transition from nonconference play to the heightened intensity and significance of SEC competition.
The Latson Situation: Confirmed Absence
The most significant news emerging from Staley’s Wednesday session concerned senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, whose ankle injury against Providence cast a shadow over South Carolina’s SEC opener preparations.
Staley delivered the disappointing confirmation that many had feared: “No practice today, won’t play tomorrow,” she stated, according to reports from the media session, definitively ruling out Latson for the Alabama game.
Day-to-Day Uncertainty Moving Forward
When pressed about Latson’s potential availability beyond the Alabama contest—specifically for Sunday’s road matchup at Florida—Staley expressed both uncertainty and hope while acknowledging the reality that the team must prepare to compete without their second-leading scorer.
“We’ll take it day-by-day. I’m hoping, I’m praying. If not, we’ve got to keep going,” Staley said, reflecting the pragmatic yet optimistic mindset required of championship coaches navigating injury adversity.
The day-to-day designation suggests that while Latson’s ankle injury isn’t considered long-term or season-threatening, the timeline for her return remains genuinely uncertain. Medical staff will continue monitoring her progress, with decisions about availability made based on her healing, pain management, and functional ability rather than arbitrary timelines.
The Impact of Losing Latson
Staley’s comments implicitly acknowledged the significant challenge Latson’s absence creates. The senior guard’s production—16.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on career-best shooting percentages (51.9% FG, 41.7% 3PT)—cannot be easily replaced by simply inserting another player into the lineup.
Beyond statistics, Latson’s value extends to:
- Secondary playmaking that relieves pressure on point guard Raven Johnson
- Transition scoring that fuels South Carolina’s fast-break attack
- Veteran decision-making in crucial moments
- Perimeter shooting that spaces the floor for interior scorers
The “keep going” portion of Staley’s response reflects the reality facing all elite programs: injuries are inevitable, and championship teams distinguish themselves not by avoiding adversity but by how they respond to it.
Tournebize Update: Potential Reinforcement
Another significant topic during Staley’s Wednesday media session concerned incoming French forward Alicia Tournebize, whose arrival has been delayed by documentation processing despite signing with South Carolina on December 22.
When asked whether the 6-foot-7 forward might be available for Sunday’s Florida game, Staley offered a cautiously optimistic response: “I don’t know, maybe,” according to reports.
The Tournebize Timeline
The uncertainty surrounding Tournebize’s arrival stems from administrative rather than basketball factors. International student-athletes must complete various documentation requirements, visa processing, academic credential evaluations, and NCAA eligibility clearances before joining their teams.
The holiday timing has likely complicated these processes, with government offices and processing centers operating on reduced schedules between Christmas and New Year’s. Staley’s “maybe” regarding Sunday availability suggests that paperwork completion could be imminent, potentially allowing Tournebize to arrive in Columbia within days.
Potential Impact
Should Tournebize arrive and receive clearance in time for the Florida game, her presence would provide valuable reinforcement for a frontcourt already missing Chloe Kitts (ACL) and Ashlyn Watkins (season-ending injury). However, realistic expectations about immediate contributions remain important given:
- Natural adjustment period to American college basketball
- Learning South Carolina’s systems and terminology
- Building chemistry with new teammates
- Physical conditioning after travel and time away from organized practice
- Cultural and linguistic adaptation
Staley’s approach to Tournebize will likely emphasize gradual integration rather than expecting immediate major contributions, though having another 6-7 body available for practice and potential game minutes addresses a genuine roster need.
Preparing for Alabama
While injury news dominated Wednesday’s media session, Staley presumably also addressed South Carolina’s preparation for Alabama and the beginning of SEC play.
The Challenge of Conference Competition
The SEC opener marks a significant competitive elevation from nonconference play. While South Carolina faced quality opponents during the early season, SEC competition brings:
Familiarity: Conference opponents scout each other extensively and understand tendencies
Physicality: SEC teams play a more physical brand of basketball that tests depth and toughness
Hostile Environments: Road games in the SEC feature challenging atmospheres that require mental fortitude
Sustained Excellence Required: The conference schedule allows no margin for error in championship pursuits
Tactical Adjustments: Coaches know each other’s systems and players, creating chess-match dynamics
Alabama-Specific Preparation
Staley and her staff have undoubtedly spent considerable time preparing specifically for Alabama’s personnel, schemes, and tendencies. Key preparation areas likely include:
Scouting Report Implementation: Ensuring players understand Alabama’s offensive sets, defensive schemes, and individual player tendencies
Defensive Game Plan: Identifying Alabama’s primary offensive threats and determining how to limit their effectiveness
Offensive Attack Plan: Recognizing how Alabama defends and exploiting weaknesses in their scheme
Transition Defense: Preventing Alabama from generating easy baskets in the open court
Rebounding Emphasis: Establishing dominance on the glass to limit Alabama’s second-chance opportunities
Addressing the Rotation Adjustment
With Latson confirmed out, Staley’s Wednesday comments likely addressed how the coaching staff plans to redistribute responsibilities and adjust rotations. Key decisions include:
Starting Lineup: Who replaces Latson in the starting five—likely Agot Makeer based on her second-half start against Providence, though alternatives include Ayla McDowell or Maddy McDaniel
Minutes Distribution: How playing time gets reallocated among available guards and wings
Offensive Responsibilities: Which players assume increased scoring and playmaking duties
Defensive Assignments: How defensive matchups and responsibilities shift with the altered rotation
Backup Point Guard: Whether Maddy McDaniel remains in a reserve role or moves into the starting lineup, affecting backup point guard availability
The Mental and Emotional Aspect
Beyond tactical and personnel considerations, Staley’s Wednesday media session likely touched on the mental and emotional preparation required for SEC play, particularly when navigating significant injuries.
Championship Mindset
Staley’s track record demonstrates her ability to maintain championship standards and expectations regardless of circumstances. Her comments about “keep going” reflect the mentality she instills in her program:
No Excuses: Injuries are part of basketball; championship teams find ways to win regardless
Next Player Up: The program recruits depth specifically for situations like this; players must seize opportunities
Process Over Outcome: Focus on executing the game plan and playing South Carolina basketball rather than worrying about who’s unavailable
Team Before Individual: Everyone must sacrifice and accept expanded or altered roles for collective success
New Year’s Day Motivation
The timing of this SEC opener—New Year’s Day—provides natural motivational themes about fresh starts, new opportunities, and setting the tone for what comes next. Staley likely emphasized viewing the Alabama game as the beginning of a new chapter where the team’s identity and character will be forged through SEC competition.
Looking Beyond Alabama
While Wednesday’s media session focused primarily on the immediate Alabama matchup, Staley’s comments about Latson being day-to-day and Tournebize potentially arriving soon indicate her thinking extends to the broader early SEC schedule.
The Florida Challenge
Sunday’s road game at Florida represents the second challenge in South Carolina’s conference opener stretch. Playing at Florida is never easy, and doing so potentially without Latson while still integrating any new additions like Tournebize creates legitimate concern.
Staley’s day-to-day approach to Latson suggests she’s hopeful about having her back for Florida, though the team must prepare for both scenarios. The quick turnaround—just three days between games—limits practice time and requires efficient preparation.
Building SEC Momentum
The opening weeks of conference play often establish trajectories that persist throughout the season. Teams that start strong in SEC play build confidence, momentum, and favorable positioning for both the regular season title race and tournament seeding. Conversely, early struggles can create pressure and doubt that proves difficult to overcome.
Staley understands these dynamics and has presumably emphasized to her team the importance of beginning conference play on solid footing, regardless of who’s available or unavailable.
Media and Fan Reactions
Staley’s Wednesday media session provided clarity that fans and media had been seeking since Latson’s injury. The confirmation of her absence for Alabama, while disappointing, allows for realistic expectations and eliminates uncertainty about her status.
The day-to-day designation for future games maintains hope for a relatively quick return while acknowledging the genuine uncertainty about timing. Staley’s transparent communication style—being honest about what she knows and doesn’t know—has consistently earned respect from media and fans even when the news isn’t what people want to hear.
Historical Context
This isn’t the first time Staley has navigated significant injuries to key players during crucial stretches. Her track record of maintaining excellence despite adversity provides confidence that South Carolina will adjust effectively to Latson’s absence.
Previous examples of South Carolina overcoming injuries under Staley include:
- Navigating various injuries during championship runs
- Developing unexpected contributors when starters faced extended absences
- Maintaining competitive standards regardless of availability
- Finding creative solutions to personnel challenges
This historical success managing adversity suggests that while Latson’s absence creates genuine challenges, South Carolina possesses the coaching, depth, and culture to remain competitive and maintain championship aspirations.
The Bottom Line
Dawn Staley’s Wednesday media session provided essential clarity about South Carolina’s situation entering SEC play: Ta’Niya Latson will miss the Alabama game with her future status uncertain, Alicia Tournebize might arrive soon but remains unavailable for now, and the team must “keep going” regardless of who’s available.
The 2:00 p.m. New Year’s Day tip-off against Alabama will test South Carolina’s depth, coaching adjustments, and championship character as they begin the conference schedule that will ultimately define their season.
Staley’s transparent communication, pragmatic optimism about Latson’s recovery timeline, and unwavering commitment to competing regardless of circumstances reflect the leadership that has made South Carolina one of women’s college basketball’s elite programs.
As the Gamecocks prepare to take the court Wednesday afternoon, they do so with clear-eyed understanding of their situation: they’re undermanned but not underprepared, challenged but not defeated, and determined to prove that South Carolina basketball remains a championship-caliber program regardless of who wears the uniform on any given day.
The coming days will reveal whether Latson can return quickly and whether Tournebize arrives to provide reinforcement, but for now, South Carolina’s focus remains singular: defeating Alabama at 2:00 p.m. on New Year’s Day and beginning SEC play with a statement victory that demonstrates their championship resolve.
