South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. North Carolina: 5 Storylines to Watch in Atlanta Showdown
As the No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball team faces No. 11 North Carolina on Thursday night in Atlanta, the matchup serves as one final tune-up before the real season begins. Here are five key things to keep an eye on:
1. Can They Do It Again?
The Gamecocks showed plenty of promise in their exhibition win over Anderson — Madina Okot’s versatility, Agot Makeer’s defensive spark, Joyce Edwards’ dominance, and Adhel Tac’s near double-double stood out.
But that performance came with a caveat — Anderson is a Division II opponent, and South Carolina was expected to dominate. Thursday’s matchup against the Tar Heels will be a far more revealing test.
Both teams will keep parts of their playbooks hidden, but the overall talent level will be comparable.
The spotlight will be on Okot and Makeer to see if they can replicate their standout performances against a high-level Division I opponent.
“I want us as aggressive because some of us were aggressive shooting the basketball,” said head coach Dawn Staley. “I don’t want to take away from them.”
2. Homecoming Game
For seniors Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson, Thursday night will be a homecoming. Both starred at Westlake High School in Atlanta, where they captured a national championship.
This game also highlights the NCAA’s new flexibility with preseason matchups. Teams can now schedule two public or private scrimmages against any division without requesting a waiver.
South Carolina chose two public matchups, while North Carolina played a closed-door scrimmage with Tennessee.
Beyond the competition, Staley said these exhibitions also provide valuable NIL opportunities for her players — another factor behind her scheduling choices.
3. Finding the Range from Deep
The Gamecocks shot just 4-for-18 from beyond the arc against Anderson. Staley wasn’t alarmed, noting the team ran only a few offensive sets and wasn’t fully in rhythm.
Still, shooting consistency remains a concern. Tessa Johnson went 1-for-5 from deep, Ta’Niya Latson was 0-for-2, and the bench combined for an 0-for-5 effort.
“I’d like to see Tessa be a little bit more aggressive offensively,” Staley said. “If we could just bring our practice habits to games, we’ll be all right offensively.”
Improving from long range will be a focus against a North Carolina team that defends the perimeter well.
4. More Minutes for Maryam
Maryam Dauda logged 19 minutes in the Anderson game but saw limited first-half action as Staley prioritized extended runs for Joyce Edwards and Madina Okot.
Expect Dauda to see more significant minutes early against the Tar Heels, particularly in a tighter contest that demands frontcourt balance and defensive versatility.
5. Scouting the Tar Heels
North Carolina enters with a new-look roster after losing its top three scorers from last season. The Tar Heels’ frontcourt now features Nyla Harris, a Louisville transfer who averaged 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, and Blanca Thomas, whose role is expected to expand in her sophomore year.
Reniya Kelly, a junior guard and second-team All-ACC selection, leads the returning scorers (9.6 PPG), while Indya Nivar and Lanie Grant add backcourt experience. Freshman Nyla Brooks, a McDonald’s All-American, could also make an early impact.
Though it’s only an exhibition, Staley made it clear her team is treating it like a real game.
“We’re playing it in public and playing another D1 school to win,” Staley said. “We need to see some chemistry, see some players play well together.”
The Details
Who: No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 11 North Carolina
When: Thursday, Oct. 30 — 6 p.m. ET
Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Ga.
Watch: No live TV or streaming; listen on 98.5 FM WOMG (Columbia)
