The final buzzer has sounded on South Carolina’s exhibition slate, and if one thing’s clear, it’s that Dawn Staley’s squad still has a few wrinkles to iron out before the season opener against Grand Canyon University. After back-to-back exhibitions versus Anderson University and North Carolina, the defending champs left the court with lessons that go deeper than the box score.
1. Defense Still a Work in Progress
Even for a team built on grit, the Gamecocks’ defense showed cracks. South Carolina surrendered 81 points to North Carolina, and that was with the Tar Heels missing their starting point guard. Rotations were late, hands were lazy, and fouls piled up fast.
Head coach Dawn Staley didn’t mince words afterward:
“Defensively, we’ve got to be better connected than we are,” Staley said. “When we are, you’ll see the fouls cleaned up. The fouls are attributed to bad rotations and bad connection.”
The ripple effect was costly. Three Gamecocks ended the night with four fouls each, forcing lineup changes and stalling rhythm. Staley’s squad now faces a long weekend in the film room, rewinding every blown coverage to reconnect before Monday night’s opener.
2. A Frontcourt by Committee
If last year’s team leaned on a dominant presence inside, this version of South Carolina looks to embrace depth and versatility. Joyce Edwards, the anchor of the paint, remains every bit the star she was projected to be. But beyond her, it’ll take a committee effort from Madina Okot, Maryam Dauda, and Adhel Tac.
Okot looked unstoppable in the win over Anderson, posting 17 points and 15 rebounds. Against UNC, though, she got into foul trouble early and struggled to find her groove. That’s where Dauda stepped in — hustling for rebounds, threading passes, and keeping the tempo alive.
“(Dauda) and Adhel are doing things Joyce and Madina aren’t,” Staley explained. “You need role players to play that way—distinctively different from how our starters are playing.”
At times, Staley even went four-guard small-ball, throwing Maddy McDaniel, Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Agot Makeer on the floor together. It’s a bold adjustment that reflects the modern game, where speed and spacing can be as deadly as size.
3. Still Building Chemistry
The most revealing takeaway? This team isn’t a finished product yet—and that’s okay. There were moments of miscommunication, mistimed cuts, and missed switches. But beneath the hiccups, you could see the chemistry starting to form.
In Thursday’s game against North Carolina, Ta’Niya Latson initially missed open looks to Tessa Johnson. By the second half, the duo was in sync—reading each other’s movements and breaking down the defense in rhythm.
“It’s about building chemistry with the players that you’re playing with,” Staley said. “That’s really hard. You need game experiences to do that.”
The schedule gives them time. With early matchups leading into a Thanksgiving tournament in Las Vegas, where they’ll meet Duke and either UCLA or Texas, South Carolina has a few weeks to find its top gear.
The Big Picture
The South Carolina women’s basketball preseason takeaways paint a portrait of a team in transition: one still elite, but learning to reinvent itself without missing a beat. The defense must tighten up, the frontcourt must mesh, and the chemistry must continue to grow.
If history is any indication, Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks will be ready when the lights shine brightest.
Featured Image Prompt (for generation):
A dynamic courtside photo of Dawn Staley coaching the South Carolina women’s basketball team, with players huddled under arena lights. Text overlay: “South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Lessons from the Preseason” — with the user’s logo subtly in the lower corner.
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