Columbia, SC – South Carolina women’s basketball received encouraging news on multiple fronts as the No. 3 Gamecocks prepare for their showdown with Georgia on Sunday, with Ta’Niya Latson returning to full practice and freshman Alicia Tournebize progressing through her transition to collegiate basketball.
Latson’s Recovery Timeline Reaches Critical Phase
According to media reports from practice observers Lulu Kesin and DC Pandc on X (formerly Twitter), Ta’Niya Latson was fully practicing and running offensive sets with the starters, marking a significant milestone in her recovery from a left ankle sprain suffered on December 28 against Providence.
The senior guard’s progression has been closely monitored since she didn’t look limited when running the offense with South Carolina’s starters to end practice on January 9 despite not playing since December 28. Coach Dawn Staley provided a cautiously optimistic update following that practice session.
“We’re going to see how she feels tomorrow, every day we’re ramping her up,” Staley said on January 9. “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.”
The Road Back From Injury
Latson’s recovery has been a carefully managed process. She was in a boot on January 1, then wasn’t on January 4. She was back practicing on January 7 but didn’t play January 8 against Arkansas, where South Carolina cruised to a 93-58 victory without their second-leading scorer.
The injury occurred when Latson was driving for a transition layup with 4:18 left in the half against Providence. It was unclear on replays if Latson stepped on the defender’s foot or simply took a wrong step, but as she tried to go up for the layup, Latson lost her balance and fell, immediately grabbing her foot in pain.
The severity of the moment was captured when Dawn Staley and trainer Craig Oates rushed out to check on her. They helped her up, but Latson was unable to put any weight on her foot as she was helped to the locker room.
Staley later confirmed it was an ankle sprain, noting “it’s her pain tolerance, it’s an ankle that she rolled earlier this season and it just kind of got irritated again”, per Yahoo Sports.
Mental and Physical Challenges
Beyond the physical recovery, Staley has acknowledged the mental adjustment Latson faces as she works her way back. “It’s hard for athletes who perform at a high level, they’re just used to their bodies just guiding them through their play, and when it doesn’t work the way they envision it takes a stab in their confidence,” Staley explained when discussing Latson’s recovery process.
Despite the challenges, the Hall of Fame coach expressed confidence in her medical team’s approach. “I think we have the best medical team that will put her in a great possible situation where she can see progress every day. Nothing more than just seeing progress every day and I think she’s over just every day pain every time she steps. I think now … you ramp her up and see the type of activity that or stressors that you could put on it … she’s out on the court and so I know she feels so much better,” Staley told reporters.
Lineup Decisions Loom
Even as Latson nears a return, Staley faces decisions about how to reintegrate her into the lineup. Freshman guard Agot Makeer started in her place but when asked if Latson will be eased back into the game off the bench or resume her starting role, Staley was still undecided.
The transfer from Florida State has been crucial to South Carolina’s success this season. Latson is averaging 16.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals. She is shooting 51.9% from the floor and 41.7% from three, both career-highs, according to On3.
For the Seminoles, Latson scored 21 or more points per game each year, averaging a nation-best 25.2 last year. Her efficiency has increased significantly at South Carolina despite taking fewer shots per game, demonstrating her adaptation to Staley’s system.
Tournebize Progresses Through Orientation
While Latson worked her way back on the practice court, the 6-foot-7 18-year-old forward from France who can dunk arrived on January 1, and traveled with the team for the 74-63 road win over Florida on January 4, according to Yahoo Sports.
The reason for her absence from recent practices, as noted by X users Lulu Kesin and DC Pandc, was her attendance at USC orientation – a standard requirement for all incoming students that signals her official enrollment at the university.
Tournebize’s Introduction to Columbia
On January 5, the program posted a video of Tournebize saying “Hi fams, it’s Alicia, I’m so grateful to be here and can’t wait to start.” She then ended the video saying something in French. The warm introduction gave Gamecocks fans their first glimpse of the highly anticipated addition to the roster.
Tournebize has been gradually integrating into the program since her arrival. During the end of practice, Tournebize was chatting with Staley as the team shot free throws, showing the French forward’s comfort level with her new coach and surroundings.
When asked about Tournebize’s timeline for learning the playbook, Staley outlined a measured approach. “Not yet, we’ll do that once she’s able to hit the floor, that’s probably going to be sometime next week I’m imagining,” Staley said on January 6, per Yahoo Sports.
Professional Experience Eases Transition
The Hall of Fame coach has expressed confidence in Tournebize’s ability to adapt quickly, citing her professional background. “Great, she’s been a pro so she understands what she needs to do,” Staley told reporters when asked how Tournebize has been adjusting, according to the College Sports Network.
Tournebize played professional basketball in France until late December, then came to Columbia on January 1. Once paperwork was squared away, she started practicing but didn’t play on January 8 in the 93-58 road win vs Arkansas, Yahoo Sports reported.
Georgia Game as Potential Debut?
Speculation has grown that Sunday’s game against Georgia could mark Tournebize’s collegiate debut. Though no SEC game is guaranteed to be the perfect chance to play her first college minutes, South Carolina’s next game against Georgia might be the best place to start, suggested Yahoo Sports.
The rationale is compelling. The No. 3 Gamecocks (16-1, 3-0 SEC) host the Bulldogs (12-5, 1-2) on January 11 before hosting No. 2 Texas on January 15. Following the Georgia matchup, South Carolina faces a brutal stretch including ranked opponents Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, making the unranked Georgia game likely the last unranked home game until February.
What Tournebize Brings
When announcing Tournebize’s signing in December, Staley said: “Alicia has an incredible skill set and basketball IQ. She has great touch around the rim, can shoot it out to the 3-point line and is a shot blocker. We’re excited that she and her family chose to bring her game to Columbia, and the FAMS are going to enjoy what she adds to our team on the court and off”, according to University of South Carolina Athletics.
In a subsequent news conference, Staley elaborated on Tournebize’s fit within the system. “It’s needed, her ability to shoot from the outside, shoot over defenses. I think bringing (Tournebize) into the fold, we’ll get a lot more (high-low) opportunities, and sometimes when players see other players doing it, it becomes contagious. She’ll be a threat out there for high-low passes, scoring outside, whether it’s the 3-pointer or mid-range,” the Pro Football Network reported.
Basketball Royalty
Tournebize comes from basketball royalty. Tournebize’s path to playing in the United States follows that of her mother Isabelle Fijalkowski, who played at Colorado and in the WNBA along with a decorated international career that included two EuroLeague titles and five French League championships. Fijalkowski is in the French Basketball Academy Hall of Fame (2011) and the FIBA Hall of Fame (2020) and is set to be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
There’s even a South Carolina connection through the family tree. South Carolina associate head coach Lisa Boyer was an assistant for the Cleveland Rockers during Tournebize’s mother’s career at the organization, adding another layer to the recruit’s decision to choose Columbia.
Depth Development During Adversity
The absence of Latson has forced South Carolina to develop its bench depth, which could prove invaluable down the stretch. “Our bench has developed over the past couple of weeks,” Staley said after the 93-58 road win over Arkansas on January 8. “We’re seeing it a little bit more now because we have an injury … I think Maddy McDaniel and Agot Makeer are doing a really great job”, Yahoo Sports reported.
McDaniel has been particularly impressive in Latson’s absence. McDaniel typically subs in for starting point guard Raven Johnson, but Staley’s played both her point guards together more as of late. McDaniel’s excelled in her increased minutes off the bench, finishing with a team-high six assists against Arkansas after finishing with five against Florida on January 4.
The freshman guard’s performance against Arkansas represented a breakthrough. Maddy McDaniel orchestrated the offense beautifully, dishing out six assists without committing a single turnover in 26 minutes of action. Staley called it McDaniel’s best performance on both ends of the floor.
McDaniel and Makeer have combined for 39 points the last three games, to go with a combined 26 assists, providing crucial production during Latson’s recovery period.
Roster Challenges Throughout the Season
South Carolina’s injury challenges extend beyond Latson’s current situation. South Carolina has finished with all 10 players three times. The Gamecocks had all 10 on November 23 then in Las Vegas for the two games over Thanksgiving. But once Makeer came back from concussion protocol, Latson went down. In between, Staley was also without starters Tessa Johnson and Madina Okot for a game each.
The team has dealt with significant losses before the season even began. Standout forward Chloe Kitts suffered a season-ending ACL injury, and Ashlyn Watkins announced she would miss the entire season to ensure full recovery from her own ACL tear.
Looking Ahead to Georgia
As South Carolina prepares for Georgia, the potential return of Latson combined with Tournebize’s increasing readiness could provide a significant boost. Whether Staley chooses to play either player against the Bulldogs remains to be seen, but the progress both have made suggests the Gamecocks’ depth will only improve as SEC play intensifies.
With Texas looming on January 15 – a rematch of South Carolina’s only loss this season – having both players available and integrated into the rotation could prove crucial for the Gamecocks’ championship aspirations.
For now, the positive signs from practice and Tournebize’s completion of orientation represent important steps forward for a South Carolina team that has navigated significant adversity while maintaining its position among the nation’s elite programs.
Sources
- Lulu Kesin and DC Pandc, X (formerly Twitter). Practice observations, January 2026.
- Yahoo Sports. “Dawn Staley gives Ta’Niya Latson injury update for South Carolina vs Georgia.” January 9, 2026. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dawn-staley-gives-taniya-latson-211325661.html
- On3. “South Carolina women’s basketball: Ta’Niya Latson update.” January 2026. https://www.on3.com/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks/news/south-carolina-womens-basketball-taniya-latson-update/
- Yahoo Sports. “Dawn Staley details Ta’Niya Latson injury as Alicia Tournebize arrives from France.” January 1, 2026. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dawn-staley-details-taniya-latson-224835955.html
- Yahoo Sports. “How Alicia Tournebize introduced herself to South Carolina women’s basketball fans.” January 6, 2026. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alicia-tournebize-introduced-herself-south-160256817.html
- Yahoo Sports. “Why Alicia Tournebize South Carolina debut vs Georgia would make sense for Dawn Staley.” January 9, 2026. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-alicia-tournebize-south-carolina-222142905.html
- Pro Football Network. “Dawn Staley Opens Up About Mid-Season Recruit Alicia Tournebize’s Progress With South Carolina.” January 2026. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/womens-cbb/dawn-staley-on-alicia-tournebize-progress-with-south-carolina/
- University of South Carolina Athletics. “Tournebize to Join Gamecocks After Holiday Break.” December 22, 2025. https://gamecocksonline.com/news/2025/12/22/tournebize-to-join-gamecocks-after-holiday-break/
- Yahoo Sports. “How Ta’Niya Latson injury impacted Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s reserve guards.” January 9, 2026. https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/taniya-latson-injury-impacted-dawn-050950311.html
- College Sports Network. “Dawn Staley Weighs In on New 6-Foot-7 Forward From France Alicia Tournebize Adjusting to South Carolina Practice.” January 2026.
