As No. 3 South Carolina prepares to host Georgia on Sunday, several storylines are converging that could dramatically reshape the Gamecocks’ championship trajectory. From potential player returns to exhausted starters and a meaningful tribute game, here’s everything you need to know.
The Return Everyone’s Waiting For
The biggest question surrounding Sunday’s matchup centers on Ta’Niya Latson’s availability. After missing three-and-a-half games with a sprained left ankle, the star guard participated in Friday’s practice, raising hopes for her return against the Lady Bulldogs.
“We’re going to see how she feels (Saturday). Every day is just, we’re ramping her up,” Dawn Staley told On3. “If that lower leg doesn’t feel good (Saturday), then we’ll have to pull back. If it does, then we’ll continue to push through.”
South Carolina’s availability report, released Saturday night, could change for the first time in 2026, potentially providing a massive boost heading into a crucial stretch of SEC play.
Meanwhile, 6-foot-7 freshman Alicia Tournebize missed Friday’s practice due to freshman orientation. Staley remained tight-lipped about whether the French forward would make her highly anticipated collegiate debut on Sunday, per On3.
Exhaustion Setting In
With only nine active players available, South Carolina’s starters have been pushed to their limits. The fatigue became visible during the 74-63 road win at Florida, where the Gamecocks looked gassed at times.
Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, and Tessa Johnson each logged over 31 minutes against Alabama. Against Florida, the Johnsons each played 35 minutes, while Maddy McDaniel played 33 minutes. The numbers tell a troubling story for a team navigating the brutal SEC gauntlet.
“We’ve been playing our starters 35, 36 minutes,” Staley explained to On3. “We’d like for that to be around 30, not even 30. 28 is where I think we can have peak performance with everybody. Everybody doesn’t have to conserve because they’re trying to make it through the game.”
The blowout victory over Arkansas provided temporary relief, with Edwards playing just 25 minutes and the Johnsons logging 21 minutes each. Staley even resorted to using timeouts for rest against Florida—something she rarely does—highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Latson was averaging just under 30 minutes per game before her injury. Replacing those minutes and her production has placed enormous burden on the remaining rotation, making her potential return all the more critical.
The Missing Piece
While Latson’s return would be huge for the backcourt, getting Tournebize on the floor could revolutionize South Carolina’s offensive identity. The Hall of Fame coach believes the French forward possesses skills the Gamecocks desperately lack.
Tournebize stands taller than Edwards but moves more fluidly and shoots better than Madina Okot (despite Okot draining another three-pointer against Arkansas). Most importantly, she could resurrect South Carolina’s dormant high-low game—a staple dating back to the A’ja Wilson and Alaina Coates era.
“It’s needed,” Staley told On3. “Her ability to shoot from the outside, her ability just to kind of see over defenses. Our high-low game has been nonexistent. We’ve been really good at high-low game for a long time, and maybe we get one a game, maybe. But I think bringing Ali into the fold, we’ll get a lot more opportunities. And sometimes when players see other players doing it, it becomes contagious, so she’ll be a threat out there for high-low passes, for scoring on the outside, whether it’s outside the three or mid-range.”
Even limited minutes from Tournebize could provide crucial rest for Edwards while adding a dimension opponents haven’t had to prepare for this season.
Honoring a Legend
Sunday’s contest carries special meaning as South Carolina’s annual “We Back Pat” game, honoring late Tennessee coaching legend Pat Summitt, who battled early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
“Champion coach, champion individual, champions for women’s basketball,” Staley said, according to On3. “Always has looked out for women’s basketball, has set the example of how we she be by being inclusive. Yes, she had dynasty teams throughout her tenure as the Tennessee coach, but it never felt like it was all about Tennessee. It always felt like it was about all of us. She made us believe there was a little bit of Tennessee in all of us, meaning a little bit of dominance, a little bit of success.”
In another meaningful connection, freshman Maddy McDaniel is among 65 players nationwide honored with the Kay Yow Servant Leader Award, recognizing players who exemplify leadership and service in fighting cancers affecting women. McDaniel wears a patch on her jersey honoring her mother, an ovarian cancer survivor.
“It means a lot,” McDaniel told On3. “Just to be able to honor my mom and what she went through, it means a lot to be able to go on the floor and play for her every game.”
South Carolina will hold its annual Play4Kay game on February 5 against Mississippi State, honoring the late NC State coach Kay Yow.
Georgia’s Blueprint
The Lady Bulldogs entered SEC play undefeated but have stumbled to a 1-2 conference record, sandwiching a win over Texas A&M between losses to Ole Miss and LSU.
Dani Carnegie has emerged as Georgia’s do-it-all star, averaging 18.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while providing the scoring punch that fueled their non-conference success, per On3. She’s scored at least 23 points in each SEC game, though her efficiency has declined dramatically.
Carnegie shot just 33% against Texas A&M and LSU combined, hitting only 24% from three-point range. Trinity Turner, Mia Woolfolk, and Rylie Theuerkauf also average double figures, but Georgia’s identity remains rooted in defense.
The Lady Dawgs allow just 55.2 points per game on 35.1% shooting, according to On3. Their Achilles’ heel? Rebounding. Georgia grabs only 39.6 rebounds per game for a plus-6.4 margin. They’re undersized at most positions, and their big players aren’t elite on the glass—a potential disaster against South Carolina’s physical frontcourt.
With Edwards, Okot, and potentially Tournebize dominating the paint, Georgia’s size disadvantage could prove decisive in what promises to be a physically demanding SEC battle.
Source: On3
