Overview
- Head coach Dawn Staley said the Gamecocks do not have an identity yet as she evaluates chemistry with a reworked roster.
- Staley criticized defensive discipline in the opener, noting unplanned switches and foul trouble that prompted a briefly used four-guard lineup the team had not practiced.
- Ta'Niya Latson led with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and Raven Johnson added 11 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists in the season debut.
- Forward Chloe Kitts is sidelined after an October ACL tear, and Staley said backup guard Maddy McDaniel’s late-game knock appeared to be a knee-to-knee collision with no major concern.
- South Carolina announced a Nov. 2, 2026 matchup against Maryland in Paris, and the Gamecocks enter the season with the No. 2 national title odds behind UConn.