South Carolina women’s basketball is anticipating the return of one important reserve for their upcoming clash with Alabama, even as another bench contributor remains unavailable.
Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac both sat out the Gamecocks’ game against LSU after picking up left leg injuries. McDaniel went through pre-game warmups but was ultimately unable to suit up, while Tac spent the duration of the contest on the sideline in casual clothing with a boot protecting her left foot.
McDaniel’s return to full practice on Wednesday signaled a promising recovery, with head coach Dawn Staley confirming her availability.
“Yes, she practiced so she’s good,” Staley said.
Tac’s situation remains more uncertain. During the portion of Wednesday’s practice session open to reporters, she was still seen wearing the boot and dressed in sweats rather than practice gear. Staley, characteristically cautious when addressing player health specifics, offered only a brief update on Tac’s condition.
“Lower leg injury,” the coach said. “Day-to-day.”
Both players first appeared on the injury report approximately a week ago. McDaniel was an unexpected late withdrawal ahead of the Tennessee matchup — she had not appeared on the initial injury report but was added as unavailable on the day of the game, and was spotted wearing a boot during the contest. Statistically, McDaniel has been a reliable contributor, averaging 4.5 points and nearly 3.0 assists per game. Her ball security has been particularly impressive, having committed just 12 turnovers all season for an exceptional assist-to-turnover ratio of 5.2.
Tac’s absence against Tennessee was an entirely different matter — she was healthy and in uniform that night, with her exclusion coming down to tactical decisions rather than physical limitations. Across the season, Tac has featured in 23 games, including three starts, and is averaging 3.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per outing.
The ongoing injury concerns surrounding both players are emblematic of a deeply challenging season for the Gamecocks in terms of roster availability. South Carolina has only managed to begin a game at full strength on nine occasions across 27 contests, and has completed just six games without losing a player along the way.
Those numbers don’t account for Chloe Kitts, whose season came to a premature end in October following a torn ACL. Beyond Kitts, McDaniel, Makeer, Latson, Madina Okot, Tessa Johnson, and Tac have all been forced to miss time due to injury or illness at some point this campaign. The cumulative toll has been significant — South Carolina players have collectively missed 53 games this season as a result of injury, suspension, or the acclimation process.
