COLUMBIA, S.C.— Reporting from Colonial Life Arena where the injury bug has struck South Carolina’s women’s basketball team once again. Ta’Niya Latson exited Sunday’s game with a lower left leg injury, creating a significant roster challenge for the Gamecocks as they prepare for conference play.
The Injury Incident
The concerning moment came with 4:18 remaining in the first half. Latson was pushing the ball in transition, driving toward the basket for what appeared to be an easy layup. As she attempted to elevate, she lost her balance and went down hard, immediately clutching her foot in visible pain.
Head coach Dawn Staley and trainer Craig Oates rushed onto the court to assist. They helped Latson to her feet, but she couldn’t bear any weight on the injured foot as they escorted her to the locker room. Video replay made it difficult to determine whether she stepped on a defender’s foot or if something else caused the mishap.
Initial Diagnosis and Timeline
Speaking with the SEC Network immediately after the game, Staley provided a preliminary assessment.
“She’s got an ankle sprain, for right now. Knock on wood,” Staley said.
During her full postgame press conference, the coach offered additional details about Latson’s condition and the next steps.
“She’s smiling. She got treatment all second half and just walked out,” Staley explained. “I think we’ll look at her tomorrow.”
The team plans to reevaluate Latson on Monday to determine the full extent of the injury and establish a recovery timeline.
What South Carolina Loses
The potential absence of Latson cannot be understated. She’s been a cornerstone of this team’s success, posting impressive numbers: 16.9 points, 4.0 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. Her shooting percentages are career-best marks — 51.9% from the field and 41.7% from three-point range. She ranks as the team’s second-leading scorer and serves as a vital piece in the Gamecocks’ fast-paced transition offense.
Injury Woes Continue
This latest setback adds to an already challenging season for South Carolina from a health perspective. Through 14 games, the Gamecocks have only started five contests with their full 10-player roster available, and they’ve finished just three games with everyone healthy.
Potential Lineup Solutions
If Latson misses any time, Staley has several options to consider. Let me break down the possibilities:
Option 1: Start Agot Makeer
This appears to be the most probable scenario. Agot Makeer actually started the second half on Sunday in Latson’s place, which might indicate Staley’s initial thinking.
Before missing five consecutive games while in concussion protocol, Makeer was frequently the first player called off the bench. She returned Sunday showing some rust from the layoff, but still managed a solid double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Her defensive prowess and ability to excel in transition align perfectly with South Carolina’s preferred style of play.
Staley could keep Tessa Johnson at her current position and insert Makeer into Latson’s spot, or she might shift Johnson to the guard position to minimize overall lineup disruption.
Option 2: Start Ayla McDowell
The freshman Ayla McDowell brings one significant advantage — consistency. She’s the only reserve who has appeared in all 14 games this season, giving her slightly more game experience than Makeer at this point.
McDowell is listed as a guard but functions more as a wing player. If Staley chooses this route, Johnson would likely slide over to the guard spot with McDowell starting on the wing. This option provides better perimeter shooting (McDowell connects on 37.1% from beyond the arc compared to Makeer’s 27.3%), though it sacrifices some athleticism and playmaking capability.
Option 3: Insert Maddy McDaniel
For those wanting experience, sophomore Maddy McDaniel would be the selection. Primarily a point guard, McDaniel has spent considerable time playing off the ball this season alongside starting point guard Raven Johnson.
McDaniel excels at attacking the basket, and her three-point shooting continues to develop. While neither she nor Johnson qualifies as a primary scoring threat, they both score enough to prevent defenses from ignoring them completely.
The major concern with this approach?** It depletes the team’s depth at point guard. The Gamecocks managed without McDaniel for four games earlier this season, but that was with Latson available to handle backup point guard duties. Staley might be reluctant to face that situation again.
Option 4: Go With Size
Staley has demonstrated a willingness to think outside the box when injuries strike.
She famously started backup forward Laeticia Amihere at point guard when Destanni Henderson was injured in 2021. Even more notably, when post player Alaina Coates went down in 2017, Staley replaced her with backup point guard Bianca Cuevas-Moore
.Despite the dramatic roster overhaul, the Gamecocks captured the national championship that season.
So we shouldn’t dismiss the possibility of Staley deploying a bigger lineup. Earlier this season when Johnson missed a game, Staley started 6-6 Adhel Tac alongside Madina Okot for a twin towers look, with joyce Edwards shifting to the wing. She could also turn to Maryam Dauda, who offers more offensive production than Tac while achieving the same strategic goal.
Throughout this season, Tac and Dauda have essentially competed for the same minutes backing up Okot. Promoting one to the starting lineup might actually allow the other to establish a more consistent role with the second unit, while keeping Makeer, McDowell, and McDaniel in their established rotation spots.
The Wild Card: Alicia Tournebize
The ultimate unknown factor is incoming freshman Alicia Tournebize. Based on available footage, she appears more comfortable operating away from the basket than either Tac or Dauda, potentially making her a better complement to Okot. A starting frontcourt featuring 6-3 Edwards, 6-6 Okot, and 6-7 Tournebize would create matchup nightmares for opposing teams.
However, joining the team midseason means Tournebize faces a steep adjustment period. Sometimes starting actually simplifies things for a new player — she knows her role for the first few minutes before heading to the bench when coaches begin making tactical adjustments.
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All eyes now turn to Monday’s evaluation, which will determine not only Latson’s status but also how Staley chooses to navigate this latest roster challenge. Check back for updates as we learn more about the injury and the team’s plan moving forward.
