A perennial championship contender in women’s college basketball, South Carolina could play this upcoming season without a key piece of their backcourt rotation.
The Gamecocks announced on Thursday junior guard Maddy McDaniel is stepping away from the program to focus on her “mental and emotional well-being,” according to a statement from McDaniel.
Advertisement
“Every athlete knows that mental strength is as valuable as their physical strength. It just doesn’t announce itself in the same way when it needs attention. It doesn’t feel like an ankle sprain or bruise. It’s harder to put your finger on,” McDaniel wrote. “Still, it’s time for me to acknowledge it. I’ve tried to just keep going, but right now I’m not giving my coaches, my teammates and the FAMS the version of myself they deserve.
“So, I’ve decided to step away from the team to focus on my mental and emotional well-being, to get back to my best self on all levels.”
As a sophomore last season, McDaniel played in 33 of 40 games for South Carolina, ranking sixth on the team in minutes-played per game with 19.7. Following the graduations of Raven Johnson and Ta’Niya Latson, the 5-foot-9 product of Upper Marlboro, Maryland — a former ESPN-ranked top 15 recruit — was expected to have a bigger role this season.
McDaniel’s statement did not include a timeline for her return nor did it specify if she would be stepping away for the full season.
Advertisement
“If we see anyone in our program going through something, we give them the space and the grace to work through it,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said in a statement. “When they embrace that it may take more than that, we embrace that, too. Maddy’s decision is a difficult one for a young person to make, and I’m glad she felt our program was a safe place for her to make it.”
McDaniel averaged 4.3 points and 2.7 assists per game last season while shooting 33% from 3-point land. She tallied six assists each in wins over Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn. In 13 of 17 games where she played at least 20 minutes, she had one turnover or less.
While South Carolina has plenty of frontcourt depth heading into the season with Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts, Ashlyn Watkins, Alicia Tournebize and Adhel Tac all returning — plus the addition of 6-foot-3 five-star recruit Oliviyah Edwards — the Gamecocks enter the season somewhat thin in the backcourt. McDaniel was the only true point guard returning, and that role will now have to be filled by someone else.
Tessa Johnson is the lone returning starting guard and she’ll be accompanied by Texas transfer Jordan Lee, five-star recruit Jerzy Robinson, athletic wing Agot Makeer and reserve guard Ayla McDowell.
Advertisement
Watkins is back for South Carolina after taking the 2025-26 season off for mental health reasons, rejoining the team for summer workouts this year.
The Gamecocks open the 2026-27 season on Nov. 2 in Paris against Brenda Frese’s Maryland Terrapins. Staley’s South Carolina squad has won three national championships and has played in each of the last six Final Fours.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina women’s basketball guard Maddy McDaniel to ‘step away’ from program
