Dawn Staley has never been a coach who measures success by the final score alone. South Carolina may have opened its 2026–27 campaign with a 101–93 victory over No. 20 Maryland in Paris, but the performance exposed weaknesses that the legendary coach will not ignore.
The No. 1-ranked Gamecocks built a 28-point halftime advantage, appeared to have complete control of the contest and looked ready to begin their championship campaign with a statement victory. Instead, they spent much of the second half struggling to contain a Maryland team that refused to surrender.
The Terrapins eventually reduced a 31-point deficit to just six points. South Carolina escaped with the victory, but Staley was left with questions about her team’s discipline, defensive concentration and mental toughness.
Her postgame assessment revealed something particularly important: Staley believes her players have not yet developed the habits required to maintain their competitive standard when fatigue sets in.
That is a serious concern for a program with national championship ambitions.
A 28-Point Lead Turned Into an Uncomfortable Finish
South Carolina could hardly have asked for a better opening half.
The Gamecocks scored 61 points before halftime, shooting efficiently and creating problems for Maryland on both ends of the floor. Joyce Edwards found her rhythm, the transition offense was productive, and South Carolina established a 61–33 advantage.
At one point, the lead reached 31 points.
Maryland appeared overwhelmed, and the contest seemed destined to become a comfortable opening-night victory for Staley’s team.
Then the second half began.
Maryland returned with considerably more aggression, while South Carolina struggled to reproduce the defensive intensity that had defined its first-half performance. The Terrapins began finding open looks, converting perimeter shots and attacking a defense that suddenly appeared vulnerable.
The numbers were concerning.
Maryland outscored South Carolina 60–40 after halftime and eventually reduced the deficit to 89–80 with approximately four and a half minutes remaining.
The Terrapins continued their push, getting within six points before South Carolina finally secured the victory.
For Staley, the issue extended beyond allowing an opponent to score more frequently. It was the manner in which her team surrendered control of a game it had dominated.
Staley Identifies the Problem: South Carolina Lost Its Competitive Spirit
The most revealing part of Staley’s postgame reaction concerned what happened mentally when South Carolina began struggling.
She acknowledged that her players were probably tired physically, but she expected something else to take over when their bodies became fatigued.
Her explanation was direct:
“I thought physically, we probably were a little tired, but when you’re physically tired, the mental piece has to kick in.”
Staley went further, admitting that the Gamecocks had not developed enough habits to maintain their concentration under those circumstances.
She also identified a particularly troubling development: South Carolina had lost its competitive spirit during the third quarter.
That observation carries considerable weight.
Championship teams are expected to maintain defensive discipline even when their shots are not falling, their legs are tired or opponents begin building momentum. South Carolina has the personnel and experience to compete at the highest level, but Staley wants those qualities reflected consistently throughout an entire game.
Her concern is that the team has not yet established the habits necessary to respond when adversity arrives.
She made it clear that the Gamecocks must find a way to play a complete 40-minute game.
For a program that expects to compete for another national championship, that standard is non-negotiable.
Addi Mack Exposed South Carolina’s Defensive Problems
Maryland’s comeback had a major contributor.
Addi Mack produced a career-high 35 points, with an extraordinary 31 coming in the second half.
She finished the game shooting 14-of-20 from the field and 6-of-10 from three-point range. Her second-half performance was particularly damaging because South Carolina struggled to prevent her from finding comfortable shooting opportunities.
Mack’s production was not simply a case of one player getting hot.
Maryland shot with considerably more confidence after halftime, and the Gamecocks struggled to close defensive gaps and maintain the pressure they had applied earlier.
The Terrapins finished with 13 made three-pointers.
That is an area Staley will certainly want to address before South Carolina faces stronger opposition.
Chloe Kitts also acknowledged the defensive problem after the game, particularly South Carolina’s inability to consistently take away Maryland’s three-point opportunities.
The concern is understandable. A team that allows opponents to generate that many quality perimeter looks could face serious difficulties against elite offensive programs.
Mack deserves credit for her remarkable performance, but South Carolina must also examine why its defensive execution deteriorated so dramatically.
Agot Makeer Gives Staley Another Reason to Be Encouraged
Despite her disappointment, Staley did not overlook the positive performances.
Agot Makeer delivered one of the biggest individual performances of the evening, finishing with a career-high 20 points.
Her shooting was particularly impressive. Makeer converted all four of her three-point attempts and provided an important offensive contribution as South Carolina established its first-half advantage.
She also recorded two steals and two blocks.
For a player who is still developing within Staley’s system, this was an encouraging performance. Her ability to contribute offensively while providing defensive activity gives South Carolina another option as the rotation develops.
Makeer’s performance also reinforces the importance of the team’s depth.
South Carolina does not need to depend on one or two players to generate its offense. The roster has several players capable of producing meaningful contributions.
However, Staley will want that offensive depth accompanied by consistent defensive discipline.
Jerzy Robinson’s Composure Earned Her an Important Role
Freshman Jerzy Robinson also gave Staley reasons to be encouraged.
Robinson finished with 15 points and played an important role during the closing stages of the game.
Her ball-handling and composure were valuable as Maryland attempted to complete its comeback. She also converted crucial free throws late in the contest.
For a freshman making her debut against a ranked opponent, handling that level of pressure is a positive indication of her potential.
South Carolina will need players who can make sound decisions when games become uncomfortable. Robinson demonstrated some of those qualities in Paris.
Her development could become increasingly important as Staley evaluates the backcourt rotation.
Justine Loubens Is Giving Staley Another Rotation Option
Another player worth watching is French freshman Justine Loubens.
Playing in front of a home-country audience, Loubens made a useful contribution during her limited appearance.
She recorded a steal and an assist on a transition basket by Joyce Edwards.
Although those numbers are modest, the sequence demonstrated her ability to contribute through defensive activity and intelligent passing.
Staley has reason to continue evaluating her role as the season progresses.
South Carolina has considerable competition for playing time, and young players must demonstrate that they can make positive contributions when opportunities arise.
Loubens has made an encouraging first impression.
North Carolina Is the Next Test for Dawn Staley’s Team
South Carolina does not have much time to reflect on the Maryland performance.
The Gamecocks’ next major challenge is a matchup against No. 12 North Carolina in Charlotte on November 8.
That contest presents another opportunity for Staley to evaluate whether her players have responded to the problems exposed in Paris.
The Maryland game demonstrated that South Carolina can produce overwhelming offensive stretches. It also revealed how quickly a comfortable advantage can disappear when defensive concentration and ball security decline.
Against a quality opponent, those mistakes could become even more expensive.
Staley will want to see improved perimeter defense, better communication and greater composure when the opposition begins applying pressure.
Most importantly, she wants her players to understand that physical fatigue cannot become an excuse for losing their competitive edge.
The victory over Maryland was important, but the performance left considerable room for improvement.
Dawn Staley has delivered her warning. Now the responsibility belongs to her players.
South Carolina has the talent to compete for another national championship, but talent alone will not satisfy its head coach. The Gamecocks must demonstrate that they can maintain their standards for all 40 minutes, regardless of the opponent or the circumstances.
And that may be the most important lesson from their opening night in Paris.
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