South Carolina’s championship expectations for the 2026-27 season won’t be built when the ball tips in November. They’re being forged right now inside the Gamecocks’ training facility, where Dawn Staley’s roster has already begun the demanding summer work that has become synonymous with the program’s success.
For years, South Carolina has established itself as one of the sport’s premier programs, but the foundation has never been talent alone. National championships, Final Four appearances, and SEC titles have all been built on a culture that demands relentless preparation long before the spotlight arrives.
That culture was on full display this week.
From barbell deadlifts and kettlebell rows to sled pushes, overhead presses, and explosive jump training, the Gamecocks’ summer workouts revealed a team embracing the grind months ahead of their highly anticipated season-opening matchup in Paris.
A Full Roster Buying Into the Standard
The workout sessions featured an impressive collection of talent, including Tessa Johnson, Jordan Lee, Joyce Edwards, Ayla McDowell, Ashlyn Watkins, Oliviyah Edwards, Kelsi Andrews, Chloe Kitts, Maddy McDaniel, Jerzy Robinson, Alicia Tournebize, and Kaeli Wynn.
What stands out isn’t simply the number of players present—it’s the mix of veterans, transfers, and freshmen all working through the same demanding program.
Rather than easing newcomers into college basketball, South Carolina appears to be immersing them immediately into the championship standard that has defined the program under Staley.
More Than Just Lifting Weights
The training sessions offer a glimpse into the deliberate approach South Carolina takes toward player development.
Deadlifts remain one of the foundational movements in athletic training. By strengthening the hamstrings, glutes, and lower back, they help athletes generate power for rebounding, sprinting, and explosive movements around the basket. The sight of both guards and post players working through heavy deadlift variations suggests the staff is prioritizing overall strength development early in the offseason.
Meanwhile, sled pushes may be the clearest representation of the team’s mentality.
Few exercises demand the combination of power, conditioning, and mental toughness required to drive a weighted sled across turf. The movement develops lower-body force production while simulating the type of effort players need late in games when fatigue becomes a factor.
Kettlebell rows and upper-body pulling exercises add another critical element. Basketball is a contact sport, and strong backs, shoulders, and cores help players battle through screens, secure rebounds, and maintain positioning against elite competition.
Overhead dumbbell presses further strengthen shoulder stability and durability, an important component for athletes expected to play heavy minutes throughout a long season.
Perhaps most telling, however, was the emphasis on explosive jump training.
With players repeatedly working on vertical power and lower-body explosiveness, the program is already targeting one of basketball’s most valuable athletic traits. Rebounding, shot-blocking, finishing through contact, and defensive recovery all benefit from elite explosiveness, and South Carolina is clearly making it a priority months before opening night.
Championship Expectations Are Already Here
The Gamecocks enter the season with one of the nation’s most intriguing rosters.
Returning stars such as Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Ashlyn Watkins, and Maddy McDaniel provide experience and proven production. Transfer guard Jordan Lee adds another layer of depth, while highly regarded freshmen Jerzy Robinson, Oliviyah Edwards, Kaeli Wynn, Kelsi Andrews, and Justine Loubens bring additional talent and upside.
The most encouraging development may be seeing those newcomers working side-by-side with established veterans from day one.
Programs with championship aspirations often talk about culture. South Carolina’s summer workouts show what that culture looks like in practice.
There are no shortcuts, no offseason victories, and no guarantees.
But if these early sessions are any indication, Dawn Staley’s latest roster isn’t waiting for expectations to arrive. They’re already preparing to meet them.
And months before the first game is played, the Gamecocks are making one thing clear: the work has already begun.
