Expectations were high for Adhel Tac heading into her sophomore campaign with South Carolina women’s basketball. Through 11 games, however, her performance has been inconsistent.
Tac arrived at South Carolina in January 2024 as an early enrollee, focusing on rehabilitation from her second consecutive season-ending leg injury. The lengthy recovery process meant she was only cleared to play near the end of last season. The extended absence was evident in her limited playing time, which came mostly in lopsided contests. After two years away from competitive basketball, the former second-ranked post player in her recruiting class struggled with conditioning and sharpness.
This past offseason marked a turning point. For the first time, Tac could concentrate on skill development rather than injury recovery. Head coach Dawn Staley noted her player made a complete turnaround, improving her conditioning, refining her footwork, and resembling the highly-touted recruit she once was.
With the addition of veteran transfer Madina Okot at the post position, South Carolina didn’t require Tac to become an immediate star. However, with only 10 players on the roster, increased playing time was inevitable.
Late November brought encouraging signs. Tac recorded her first career double-double against Queens with 11 points and 10 rebounds—a milestone that generated enthusiastic reactions from teammates and fans alike.
“I feel really comfortable on the court, and I give all that credit to my teammates and my coaches,” Tac said following that performance. “They do so much, pour into me. But I know there’s still stuff I’ve got to work on, like my free throws.”
Teammate Raven Johnson praised Tac’s contributions: “Adhel, she does a lot for this team. It’s the little things she does for the team… Seeing her happy and smiling means a lot to us.”
Strong outings against Duke and Texas followed. Against the Longhorns, Tac contributed two points, four rebounds, and two blocks in just eight minutes—a performance Staley highlighted despite the loss.
“We’re a little more comfortable with putting Adhel Tac in the game,” Staley noted. “She gave us valuable minutes. I like her energy and effort out there, and I like her rebounding.”
After limited minutes at Louisville due to Okot’s dominance, Tac earned her first career start against NC Central, replacing the ill Tessa Johnson.
“She earned it,” Staley explained, expressing interest in seeing Tac and Okot play together more frequently.
A second start came against Penn State, matching up against one of the nation’s top scorers in Gracie Merkle—a clear demonstration of coaching staff confidence.
“My team, my coaches, they do a great job with pushing a whole bunch of confidence to me,” Tac said in early December. “You want your coach have confidence in you, you want to be able to have your coach trust you.”
However, both starts yielded modest statistics: two points and three rebounds in each game, despite career-high minutes. While circumstances—dominant performances by teammates against NC Central and Penn State’s zone defense—played a role, production remains below expectations.
What Tac does provide is leadership. According to Staley, within a month of joining the team in 2024, Tac was already identifying plays during film sessions. Johnson described her teammate’s vocal presence as constant and maternal.
“It’s definitely something I take pride in,” Tac said about her communication. “I’m just by nature somebody who talks… We’re better when you talk to us.”
She added: “I take pride in the fact that I’m able to make differences that don’t show up on the stat sheet.”
While intangible contributions matter, especially with Chloe Kitts injured and Sania Feagin in the WNBA, South Carolina needs more statistical production from Tac.
“I think we can get a little bit more out of Ahdel and Maryam (Dauda),” Staley acknowledged after the Penn State game, noting the opportunity to build confidence with Okot sidelined.
