South Carolina guard Brooke Quarles-Daniels has cleared a major legal hurdle. A California judge granted an injunction that secures her eligibility for the 2026-27 season.
The Ruling
Quarles-Daniels is one of several class of 2022 players suing the NCAA for a fifth year of eligibility in *Glancey v. NCAA*. The group first won a temporary restraining order that let them compete this season. A September 29 hearing was meant to settle whether a permanent injunction would follow, but the judge did not rule that day. Instead, the restraining order was extended through October 20 so more witnesses could be heard at a second hearing.
On Tuesday, Judge Beth McGowan granted the injunction, making Quarles-Daniels and the other plaintiffs eligible for the 2026-27 campaign. The NCAA has said it intends to appeal.
Why the Lawsuit Exists
Over the summer, the NCAA moved to a “5-for-5” model, giving athletes five years to complete five seasons. The clock starts when an athlete enrolls, or at the beginning of the academic year after their 19th birthday. Redshirts and waivers are gone, with exceptions only for active-duty military service, pregnancy or maternity leave, and official religious missions.
Many class of 2022 athletes, Quarles-Daniels among them, argue the timing of the switch unfairly cost them a final season. Their suits were filed in several jurisdictions and are moving through the courts separately, so no single case covers every affected athlete.
How She Landed in Columbia
Quarles-Daniels committed to South Carolina on August 28, a few weeks after Maddy McDaniel left the program. McDaniel had been projected as the Gamecocks’ starting point guard, and her exit left a hole at the position.
Her Michigan Résumé
Quarles-Daniels spent the past two seasons at Michigan, where the 5-7 guard started 31 of 35 games last year. The Wolverines posted the best season in program history, going 28-7 overall and 15-3 in the Big Ten. They earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their highest ever, and reached the Elite Eight for only the second time.
A defensive specialist, she averaged 5.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals in 25.6 minutes per game. Despite only two seasons in Ann Arbor, she ranks 12th all-time in steals at Michigan. She also earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team and Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Her Oakland Beginnings
Before Michigan, Quarles-Daniels played her first two seasons at Oakland. She was the 2023 Horizon League Freshman of the Year and a two-time second-team All-Horizon League selection. As a sophomore, she led the Golden Grizzlies in scoring (13.6 points per game), rebounding (6.6), and assists (3.0), and she took home league Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Early Gamecocks Action
In South Carolina’s exhibition against College of Charleston, Quarles-Daniels logged four points, a rebound, a block, and an assist. She came off the bench behind starters Tessa Johnson, Jordan Lee, and Agot Makeer.
Bottom Line
For South Carolina, the injunction removes a major uncertainty. Quarles-Daniels is a proven, disruptive defender who fills the point guard void left by McDaniel’s departure, and she can now plan on a full season in garnet and black. The NCAA’s pending appeal means the situation isn’t completely settled, but for now the Gamecocks have their guard and she has her fifth year.
