South Carolina Women’s Basketball vs. College of Charleston: Five Things to Watch

South Carolina’s 2026-27 campaign begins Sunday with an exhibition against College of Charleston, and while the scoreboard will not count toward the regular-season record, there will be plenty worth watching.

For Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks, this is the first public glimpse of a team undergoing significant change. Three starters from last season are gone, injuries remain a concern, and a talented freshman class is waiting for its first taste of college basketball.

The game is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET at Credit One Stadium in Charleston as part of an unusual outdoor basketball event.

Here are five things to watch.

1. The Point Guard Competition

The biggest question entering the exhibition may be the most important one for the entire season: Who will run the offense?

South Carolina must replace Raven Johnson, who handled the point guard position for nearly four seasons. The situation became even more uncertain when junior Maddy McDaniel, viewed by many as Johnson’s successor, left the program during the summer.

Staley has already said the Gamecocks will use a point-guard-by-committee approach.

The likely candidates include Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, Jerzy Robinson and Brooke Quarles Daniels. Sunday provides the first opportunity to see how those players handle the responsibility against another team.

Who brings the ball up? Who initiates the offense when pressure arrives? Who makes the decisions late in possessions?

Those details could offer an early glimpse at how South Carolina intends to replace one of its most important pieces.

2. Injury Updates

This is an exhibition in late September, not a game that counts in the standings. With roughly five weeks remaining before the regular season, South Carolina has little reason to push players who are not fully ready.

Several Gamecocks have dealt with significant injuries over the past year.

Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts are returning from torn ACLs. Adhel Tac has dealt with a foot injury, while Alicia Tournebize recently injured a finger. Kaeli Wynn has been recovering from a knee injury, and Kelsi Andrews missed much of her high school senior season because of a knee problem.

Wynn appears to be the furthest from returning and is not expected to play.

Watkins and Kitts were practicing without knee braces earlier in the week, and Kitts said she feels “great.” Still, both are fifth-year players. There is little incentive to put either on the court unnecessarily in an exhibition.

Staley acknowledged earlier this week that final availability decisions would come closer to tipoff.

“I won’t even know until closer to game time who they want to play, who they don’t want to play,” Staley said.

That makes the pregame injury report one of the most important developments to watch.

3. Remember: It’s Very Early

South Carolina’s preseason practice began only six days before Sunday’s exhibition.

That matters.

Fans should not expect a polished offense, perfect defensive rotations or anything resembling the finished version of this team. Turnovers are likely. Missed assignments are likely. There may be rushed shots and stretches when the offense looks out of sync.

Staley is looking for something simpler.

Energy. Effort. Communication. Defensive transition. Connectivity.

“It’s really early,” Staley said, emphasizing the things the team can control.

The exhibition also gives South Carolina a break from practicing against itself. After spending the opening days of preseason working against teammates, the Gamecocks finally get another uniform on the opposite side of the court.

The event itself is also part of a broader special-event weekend featuring six teams, multiple basketball games and other entertainment. South Carolina and College of Charleston will play the final game of a triple-header, following men’s games involving Virginia, Vanderbilt, College of Charleston and The Citadel.

4. The Freshmen Finally Take the Court

Freshmen are always one of the biggest attractions of an exhibition game.

This group should be no exception.

South Carolina enters the season with a highly regarded recruiting class featuring players such as Oliviyah Edwards and Jerzy Robinson. If some veterans are limited or held out, the newcomers could receive meaningful minutes and an unusually early opportunity to show what they can do.

That makes Sunday particularly intriguing.

How quickly do the freshmen adjust to the pace? Which players look comfortable handling the ball? Who communicates defensively? And who looks ready for the physicality of college basketball?

One exhibition performance will not answer those questions.

Still, after months of recruiting rankings, offseason speculation and practice reports, fans finally get to see the newcomers play against an opponent.

And, inevitably, somebody will overreact to it.

5. The Weather Could Be the Biggest Variable

The unusual setting at Credit One Stadium adds another layer of uncertainty.

Outdoor basketball has been played before, including games at tennis stadiums and other unconventional venues. Temporary basketball courts are also common; even many indoor college courts are installed for events rather than permanently built into the arena.

But there is one thing nobody can control: the weather.

Condensation has previously caused basketball and volleyball games to be interrupted or canceled, making court conditions a legitimate safety concern.

Staley acknowledged that South Carolina will monitor the situation closely.

“We’re not going to put anybody in harm’s way,” she said, emphasizing player safety.

Fortunately, the forecast for Sunday currently looks favorable. Sunny skies are expected, with temperatures in the mid-70s around the start of the triple-header and around the low 80s when South Carolina takes the court. Humidity is expected to remain relatively manageable, with light winds.

If those conditions hold, the outdoor setting should provide a memorable backdrop rather than become the story itself.

The Ws

• Who: South Carolina vs. College of Charleston
• When: 4 p.m. ET, Sunday, September 27
• Where: Credit One Stadium, Charleston, South Carolina
• Watch: ESPN+
• Coverage: GamecockCentral will provide live updates
• Event: Third game of a triple-header, so the actual tip could come later than scheduled

The result may not matter, but the first look at South Carolina’s new point-guard rotation, recovering players and heralded freshmen should make this exhibition worth watching. For the Gamecocks, the first chapter of the 2026-27 season begins with South Carolina women’s basketball vs College of Charleston 2026 exhibition.