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South Carolina women’s basketball is getting a major boost just in time for their crucial SEC showdown with Georgia on Sunday, and Gamecock fans have every reason to be excited.
According to the official SEC injury report released Saturday night, star guard Ta’Niya Latson is officially cleared to play after missing the last three games with an ankle sprain. The talented freshman’s absence from the injury report signals her long-awaited return to the court, marking a significant development for the powerhouse program.
Latson’s journey back from injury has been a gradual but encouraging process. Over the past few weeks, fans watched as she progressed from wearing a protective boot on the sideline to actively participating in team practices with the Gamecocks.
Head coach Dawn Staley remained cautiously optimistic about her star player’s status when speaking with local media on Friday. “We’ll see how it feels tomorrow,” Staley explained. “If that lower leg injury doesn’t feel good tomorrow then we have to pull back. If it does, we’ll just continue to try to push through.”
That measured approach appears to have paid off, with Latson now ready to rejoin her teammates for Sunday’s matchup.
Meanwhile, the status of 6-foot-7 French forward Alicia Tournebize remains uncertain, as she continues to appear on the SEC injury report. The international addition has been making steady progress since arriving from France on New Year’s Day and began practicing with the team this week.
Tournebize has been listed as out for South Carolina’s last two games but has shown promising signs of integration with the program. She traveled with the Gamecocks to their road game against Florida last week and made the trip to Arkansas on Thursday, suggesting she’s getting closer to game action.
The towering forward was spotted at Wednesday’s practice session, though she was notably absent from Friday’s workout. However, there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation for her absence—Tournebize was attending her USC freshman orientation session, a reminder that she’s still adjusting to life as a student-athlete in America.
As South Carolina prepares to face Georgia, having Latson back in the lineup provides a significant offensive weapon and depth that the team has missed during her three-game absence. The Gamecocks have maintained their dominance despite the injury setbacks, but Latson’s return couldn’t come at a better time as SEC play intensifies.
The combination of Latson’s confirmed return and Tournebize’s continued progress toward game readiness gives South Carolina fans plenty of reasons for optimism heading into the second half of the season. With their roster approaching full strength, the Gamecocks look poised to continue their pursuit of another championship.
Tip-off against Georgia is scheduled for Sunday, and all eyes will be on whether Latson can shake off the rust and immediately impact the game.
