Why Dawn Staley Wanted South Carolina Back in Paris for the 2026-27 Season Opener

Dawn Staley has more than basketball in mind as South Carolina prepares to return to Paris. With two French players on her roster, the Gamecocks’ international trip offers a chance to compete on a global stage, celebrate their players’ backgrounds, and strengthen the program’s international recruiting reach.

The decision to take South Carolina women’s basketball back to Paris for the 2026-27 season opener carries a special meaning for head coach Dawn Staley.

When Staley first announced the team’s return to France, she made a lighthearted comment about hoping to recruit a French player who could experience the trip with the Gamecocks. At the time, it sounded like a playful remark at the end of a press conference. Nearly a year later, that comment has taken on a different significance.

South Carolina now has two French players on its roster: sophomore Alicia Tournebize and freshman Justine Loubens. Both will have the opportunity to represent the Gamecocks in their home country when the team opens its season in Paris.

The No. 1-ranked Gamecocks are scheduled to face No. 17 Maryland on November 2 as part of the Oui-Play women’s college basketball event. The matchup is part of a four-team showcase that also features Oklahoma and North Carolina.

For Staley, the trip is about winning, but the experience extends well beyond the basketball court.

Dawn Staley’s Recruiting Vision Comes Full Circle

During a press conference on November 3, 2025, Staley reflected on South Carolina’s previous trip to Paris and expressed her desire to return.

“It was a great trip, a great experience for our players,” Staley said. “And I hope we have a French player on our roster to take home, it’s recruiting.”

That wish has effectively come true with Tournebize and Loubens now part of the program.

Tournebize joined South Carolina shortly after Staley made the comment, while Loubens signed with the Gamecocks the following April. Their presence gives the upcoming trip an added personal dimension, allowing the players to compete in front of people from their home country while sharing that experience with their teammates.

International recruiting has become an increasingly important part of college basketball, and South Carolina is among the programs benefiting from the growing pool of talent beyond the United States.

Staley has made it clear that she wants young women around the world to understand the opportunities available through American college basketball. For international prospects, playing in the United States can offer access to higher education, elite competition, and the chance to experience the NCAA Tournament and March Madness.

The Paris trip provides South Carolina with an opportunity to demonstrate those benefits firsthand.

Why Paris Is More Than a Basketball Destination

South Carolina’s return to France follows its participation in the inaugural Oui-Play event, which marked the first NCAA regular-season basketball game played in the country.

The event has since expanded into a four-team showcase, creating an opportunity for more college programs to compete internationally and connect with basketball fans in Europe.

The Gamecocks previously played at Halle Georges Carpentier, an arena with a capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators. The event later moved to Adidas Arena, a modern venue designed to accommodate major sporting competitions and other events.

Beyond the facilities and the international exposure, the trip gives players an opportunity to experience a different culture.

Staley has emphasized that winning remains the team’s primary objective. However, she also wants her players to enjoy the sights, traditions, and experiences that make international travel valuable.

“It’s an opportunity for them to experience being in Ali’s and Justine’s home country,” Staley said. “Also all the festivities and it’s a great experience outside the basketball court. All those other things that really make the trip go.”

The team is expected to leave after an early-morning practice on October 28, allowing time for activities outside its basketball commitments.

For Tournebize and Loubens, the trip offers an opportunity to share a familiar environment with teammates who may never have visited France before. For the rest of the roster, it represents a chance to experience European culture while preparing for another demanding college basketball season.

International Recruiting Remains a Priority for Staley

South Carolina’s French connection is a notable part of the upcoming trip, but Staley’s recruiting interests extend well beyond France.

Associate head coach Lisa Boyer has previously explained that the presence of two French players is coincidental rather than evidence of a recruiting strategy focused on a single country.

The Gamecocks’ approach reflects the broader international reach of women’s college basketball, where programs increasingly recruit talented players from different parts of the world.

Other teams participating in the Oui-Play event also feature international talent. Maryland, Oklahoma, and North Carolina have players from outside the United States, illustrating how global the college game has become.

Staley sees international competition as an opportunity to introduce young women to possibilities they might not otherwise consider.

She has spoken about the chance for international players to receive an American education, compete at a high level, experience March Madness, and explore life in another country.

Her message is particularly relevant for young athletes who may grow up believing that professional basketball is their only route to a successful playing career.

College basketball can offer another pathway, combining athletic development with educational opportunities and exposure to a wider range of experiences.

For South Carolina, the Paris trip provides a platform to showcase the program to potential recruits while strengthening its existing international connections.

Dawn Staley’s Personal Connection to France

Staley’s decision to return to Paris also has a personal element.

Before beginning her WNBA career in 1999, the South Carolina coach played professionally in France for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre. She has since returned to the country for professional commitments and fashion-related events.

She was also in Paris throughout the 2024 Summer Olympics, further strengthening her connection to the city.

That background gives her a personal appreciation for what international basketball can offer players, both professionally and culturally.

Although only three current South Carolina players — Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson, and Ashlyn Watkins — were part of the team that opened the 2023-24 season in Paris, the upcoming trip will introduce much of the roster to the experience for the first time.

For players who have already competed internationally, the opportunity may feel familiar. For others, it will be a chance to broaden their experiences while representing one of the most prominent programs in women’s college basketball.

Star forward Joyce Edwards is among those looking forward to the visit.

“I’m very excited,” Edwards said. “Paris is a great place to be. Just an honor to have the opportunity to play there, and we want to give it our all.”

Edwards has gained international experience through USA Basketball, while guard Agot Makeer has represented Canada. However, neither had previously visited Paris, according to the report.

Their excitement reflects the wider appeal of a trip that combines high-level competition with the opportunity to experience one of Europe’s most recognizable cities.

Can Another Trip to Paris Lead to Another Championship?

South Carolina has an interesting piece of history connected to its previous season opener in France.

The Gamecocks’ last trip to Paris came at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, a season that ended with a national championship and an undefeated record.

That team finished 38-0, capping its historic run with a victory over Notre Dame in the national championship game.

The achievement makes the upcoming return especially memorable, although the circumstances surrounding the new season will be different.

Staley is not treating the trip as a celebration of past success. Her immediate priority is preparing the Gamecocks to compete against Maryland and begin the season on a winning note.

Still, the connection between Paris and South Carolina’s most recent undefeated championship season provides an intriguing storyline heading into the new campaign.

The Gamecocks will face a nationally ranked opponent in Maryland, giving the international opener genuine competitive significance rather than making it simply an exhibition of American college basketball abroad.

Staley understands that the team must handle its responsibilities on the court while making the most of everything the trip offers away from it.

As she has indicated, the experience is a business trip first, but that does not mean the players cannot enjoy the opportunity.

A Global Stage for South Carolina Women’s Basketball

South Carolina’s return to Paris reflects the changing landscape of women’s college basketball.

The sport continues to attract international talent, while events such as Oui-Play create opportunities for American programs to build relationships with fans and prospective players around the world.

For Staley, the trip brings together several important elements: competitive basketball, international recruiting, cultural experiences, and the opportunity for two French players to represent their university at home.

Tournebize and Loubens will have a particularly meaningful role in the journey, but the entire roster stands to benefit from the experience.

The Gamecocks will travel to France with a clear objective: begin the season with a victory. At the same time, they will have an opportunity to strengthen the international profile of a program that continues to attract attention far beyond the United States.

Staley’s earlier wish for a French player to join the roster has already become a reality — twice over.

Now, as South Carolina prepares for another season opener in Paris, the coach has an opportunity to turn that connection into something even more meaningful for her players and her program.