South Carolina vs. North Carolina: Updated Starting Five, Injury Report, Who’s In, Who’s Out and Point Guard Decision
No. 1 South Carolina faces No. 12 North Carolina on Sunday in a major early-season test at the Ally Tipoff in Charlotte. With Dawn Staley preparing her team for another ranked opponent, attention is turning to the starting lineup, player availability and the backcourt responsibilities.
The Gamecocks opened their season with a 101-93 victory over Maryland in Paris. However, the second-half defensive struggles and Maryland’s comeback exposed areas that South Carolina must address.
One of the biggest questions entering Sunday’s contest is how Staley will organize her guards, particularly with Jordan Lee joining the program and Tessa Johnson taking on increased point guard responsibilities.
1. South Carolina’s Projected Starting Five
Based on the latest available lineup report and the Maryland opener, these are the five players projected to start against North Carolina.
1. Jordan Lee – Guard
No. 7 | Junior | Transfer from Texas
Lee is expected to remain an important part of South Carolina’s starting backcourt.
She brings experience, perimeter defense and another capable ball-handler. Her performance against Maryland was encouraging, as she recorded 13 points and converted all seven of her free-throw attempts.
Lee previously demonstrated her scoring ability at Texas, including a 22-point performance against North Carolina last season.
Expected role against UNC:
- Help organize the backcourt.
- Attack defensive gaps and create scoring opportunities.
- Provide perimeter defense.
- Share ball-handling responsibilities with Tessa Johnson.
2. Tessa Johnson – Guard
No. 5 | Senior
Johnson remains one of South Carolina’s most important offensive players.
She brings excellent perimeter shooting, experience in major games and an increasingly important role in distributing the basketball.
Against Maryland, Johnson finished with 15 points and a team-leading five assists.
Expected role against UNC:
- Primary point guard responsibilities.
- Organize offensive possessions.
- Distribute the ball to Joyce Edwards and other scoring options.
- Stretch North Carolina’s defense with perimeter shooting.
3. Agot Makeer – Guard
No. 44 | Sophomore
Makeer earned her starting opportunity through her outstanding performance against Maryland.
She scored a career-high 20 points, shooting 8-of-10 from the field and making all four of her three-point attempts.
Her ability to score from different areas makes her particularly valuable against a North Carolina defense that will attempt to disrupt South Carolina’s offensive rhythm.
Expected role against UNC:
- Provide perimeter scoring.
- Attack defensive mismatches.
- Contribute defensively.
- Create additional offensive space for the frontcourt.
4. Joyce Edwards – Forward
No. 8 | Junior
Edwards remains the centerpiece of South Carolina’s frontcourt offense.
She led the Gamecocks against Maryland with 23 points and eight rebounds. Her scoring ability, physical presence and efficiency around the basket make her a difficult matchup.
Expected role against UNC:
- Lead the interior scoring attack.
- Attack the basket.
- Control the defensive glass.
- Take advantage of mismatches against North Carolina’s forwards.
5. Chloe Kitts – Forward
No. 21 | Fifth-year
Kitts’ return adds important experience and versatility to the starting lineup.
After missing the previous season while recovering from an ACL injury, she returned against Maryland and contributed eight points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Her passing ability from the high post gives South Carolina another player capable of initiating offensive actions.
Expected role against UNC:
- Provide frontcourt leadership.
- Help control rebounds.
- Facilitate offense from the high post.
- Support Edwards in the paint.
2. Who’s In? South Carolina Players Available
The following players have demonstrated availability through their participation in the Maryland season opener or the latest published lineup information.
| Player | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Lee | Guard | Available; projected starter |
| Tessa Johnson | Guard | Available; projected starter |
| Agot Makeer | Guard | Available; projected starter |
| Joyce Edwards | Forward | Available; projected starter |
| Chloe Kitts | Forward | Available; projected starter |
| Ashlyn Watkins | Forward | Available; played against Maryland |
| Jerzy Robinson | Guard | Available; played against Maryland |
| Brooke Quarles-Daniels | Guard | Listed on roster |
| Ayla McDowell | Guard | Listed on roster |
| Alicia Tournebize | Forward | Listed on roster |
| Adhel Tac | Forward | Listed on roster |
| Kelsi Andrews | Forward | Played against Maryland |
| Justine Loubens | Guard | Played against Maryland |
Important: Roster inclusion does not independently confirm game-day availability. The latest public information does not provide a complete official injury clearance for every player.
3. Who’s Out? Injury and Availability Report
There are several players whose situations deserve attention.
Kaeli Wynn – Forward
Wynn was unavailable against Maryland because of an injury and did not appear in that game. Her status for the North Carolina matchup has not been officially confirmed in the available pregame information.
Oliviyah Edwards – Forward
Edwards did not play against Maryland. However, there is no confirmed public announcement establishing that she is injured or ruled out against North Carolina.
Ashlyn Watkins – Forward
Watkins is IN. She returned to action after missing the previous season while recovering from a knee injury. She played against Maryland and recorded 10 rebounds.
Chloe Kitts – Forward
Kitts is IN. She also returned to competition after her ACL recovery and participated in the season opener.
North Carolina injury situation
North Carolina has its own availability concern.
Ciera Toomey – Forward: She had not participated in the two exhibition games or the season opener because of a lower-body concern. Her availability for Sunday’s matchup remains unconfirmed in the available pregame report.
4. Point Guard Confirmation: Tessa Johnson or Jordan Lee?
This is arguably the most important backcourt question heading into the game.
South Carolina has two experienced guards capable of handling the basketball, but their responsibilities are not necessarily identical.
Tessa Johnson: Primary point guard responsibility
The latest official South Carolina game notes specifically highlight Johnson’s expanded point guard responsibilities.
Against Maryland, she led the Gamecocks with five assists while scoring 15 points.
That is an important indication of how Staley intends to use her this season.
Johnson is not simply being asked to shoot from the perimeter. She is also expected to organize possessions, make decisions under pressure and create opportunities for her teammates.
Jordan Lee: Secondary ball-handler and playmaker
Lee provides another reliable option for bringing the ball up the floor and initiating offensive actions.
Her experience at Texas makes her valuable in situations where South Carolina needs another guard to handle pressure.
She can also attack the basket, score independently and create opportunities when Johnson is being closely defended.
Final point guard verdict
Tessa Johnson is the best-supported choice for South Carolina’s primary point guard responsibilities based on the latest official game notes.
Jordan Lee should be viewed as a complementary ball-handler and playmaking guard.
This does not mean Staley has publicly announced an exclusive starting point guard designation. The two can share responsibilities depending on the opponent and game situation.
5. Why the Starting Five Matters Against North Carolina
North Carolina presents a different defensive challenge from Maryland.
The Tar Heels have shown that they can play aggressively, generate turnovers and attack offensively from the perimeter.
South Carolina must pay particular attention to three areas.
Ball security: Johnson and Lee must remain composed against pressure and avoid unnecessary turnovers.
Three-point defense: North Carolina has dangerous outside shooters, including Kate Harpring and other perimeter threats.
Frontcourt control: Edwards and Kitts will have important responsibilities controlling rebounds and creating scoring opportunities inside.
Makeer also becomes an important matchup player because of her ability to punish defensive mistakes from the perimeter.
6. Projected Starting Five Summary
| Position | Player | Main responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| PG | Tessa Johnson | Primary playmaking |
| SG | Jordan Lee | Secondary ball-handling and scoring |
| G | Agot Makeer | Perimeter scoring |
| F | Joyce Edwards | Interior scoring |
| F | Chloe Kitts | Rebounding and frontcourt playmaking |
The positional assignments above are a tactical projection, not an officially announced starting lineup or fixed position designation.
Final Verdict
South Carolina has the experience, offensive talent and defensive depth to compete against North Carolina.
The biggest positive is the return of Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins, which gives Dawn Staley additional frontcourt options. Meanwhile, Jordan Lee and Tessa Johnson provide a promising backcourt combination.
The point guard situation is becoming clearer: Tessa Johnson has taken on the primary playmaking role, while Jordan Lee provides another ball-handler and scoring option.
The most important remaining question is the availability of Kaeli Wynn and whether Staley will make any adjustments to her rotation.
Sunday’s matchup will provide another opportunity for the Gamecocks to demonstrate that their new lineup can handle a high-level opponent.
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