Alicia Tournebize Injury Update: Dawn Staley Provides Brief Details After North Carolina Victory
South Carolina women’s basketball continued its strong start to the season, moving to 2-0 on Sunday with an impressive 84-39 victory over No. 12 North Carolina. However, the No. 1-ranked Gamecocks had to secure the win without sophomore forward Alicia Tournebize, who was unavailable for the matchup.
Tournebize was not in uniform for the Ally Tipoff in Charlotte. Instead, she watched from the bench wearing a protective boot on her left ankle as her teammates took care of business against the Tar Heels.
Following the game, head coach Dawn Staley was asked about Tournebize’s condition. Although she offered little information about the situation, her brief response provided some clarification.
“Yeah,” Staley said with a grin. “… Lower leg injury.”
Her comments confirmed that Tournebize is dealing with a lower-leg issue, although the program has not provided further details about its severity or an expected return date.
Tournebize’s Limited Appearance Against Maryland
Tournebize’s latest absence comes after she saw very limited action in South Carolina’s season opener against Maryland in Paris, France, last week.
The sophomore forward appeared for just three minutes, recording one block before her night ended.
Her limited involvement raises questions about her current availability and how the coaching staff intends to manage her recovery moving forward.
Tournebize previously dealt with a finger injury during the summer while participating in training camp with the French National Team. Despite that setback, she was able to participate in South Carolina’s exhibition against Benedict and subsequently appeared in the season opener.
However, her current ankle-related concern presents another challenge as she works toward becoming a consistent contributor.
What Tournebize Brings to South Carolina
Tournebize joined the Gamecocks midway through the 2025-26 season and gradually became part of the team’s frontcourt rotation.
During her 20 appearances last season, she averaged 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, providing valuable depth off the bench.
Her size, frontcourt presence and potential make her an interesting piece of South Carolina’s roster. Getting her healthy and available could give Staley another option as the Gamecocks navigate a demanding schedule.
For now, her recovery remains the priority, particularly with the season still in its early stages.
Kaeli Wynn Also Missing From Sunday’s Game
Tournebize was not the only South Carolina forward unavailable against North Carolina. Freshman forward Kaeli Wynn also missed Sunday’s contest.
Wynn has yet to make her collegiate debut, although her absence was anticipated given the circumstances surrounding her recovery.
Staley previously explained in September that the coaching staff was being cautious with the freshman as she works back from a knee injury sustained during her senior year of high school.
At the time, Staley described the approach as taking it “real slow” with Wynn.
That cautious strategy reflects the importance of allowing young players adequate time to recover rather than rushing their return to competition.
South Carolina Awaits Further Injury Updates
Despite the absence of Tournebize and Wynn, South Carolina demonstrated its depth with a convincing 45-point victory over North Carolina.
However, their availability remains something to monitor as the season progresses.
Tournebize’s lower-leg injury and Wynn’s ongoing knee recovery are two situations worth watching, particularly as the Gamecocks prepare for more challenging matchups.
For Dawn Staley, the immediate focus will be keeping the roster healthy while maintaining the team’s early-season momentum.
The Gamecocks have started 2-0, but having their full frontcourt rotation available could become increasingly important as the competition intensifies.
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