South-Carolina

Thoughts on adding Ta’Niya Latson, losing Chloe Kitts after 2 South Carolina exhibitions

Published

5 months ago

October 30, 2025

Thoughts on adding Ta’Niya Latson, losing Chloe Kitts after 2 South Carolina exhibitions

ATLANTA — South Carolina women’s basketball got two different looks at the 2025-26 team before the season officially begins, learning some good and bad through the two exhibition wins.

The Gamecocks beat UNC 91-82 on Oct. 30, after beating Division II Anderson 112-31 on Oct. 24. There are four new faces two the roster, two from the portal in Ta’Niya Latson and Madina Okot along with two freshmen in Ayla McDowell and Agot Makeer.

Coach Dawn Staley and the No. 2 Gamecocks open the season against Grand Canyon on Nov. 3 (7 p.m. ET) at home, her first real look at her 10 players as South Carolina aims for a fourth national championship.

With two exhibition games in the books and four days until wins and losses matter, here’s what stands out about this South Carolina team so far.

South Carolina has scorers but 3-point shooting still a work in progress

Latson didn’t come to South Carolina to shoot 3-pointers, but she did come after averaging 21 or more points the last three seasons for Florida State. She finished with 19 on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor against UNC, piggybacking off a 14-point night against Anderson.

She is getting more comfortable in South Carolina’s system and her mid-range magic was on display against the Tar Heels.

Latson got help from her fellow starters with sophomore forward Joyce Edwards scoring 27 against Anderson and 12 against UNC. Okot finished with double digits both games (17 and 11) and Tessa Johnson went 7-of-11 from the floor for 19 points against UNC.

The Gamecocks shot 53.1% from the field against Anderson and 50% against UNC but from behind the 3-point line they were 4-of-18 both games (22.2%). It’s an area to work on, especially if teams take away options inside.

South Carolina will need to be a multidimensional offense this season, especially in SEC play.

What Dawn Staley said about 2025-26 South Carolina roster’s chemistry

Staley lost starting forward Chloe Kitts to an ACL tear in the preseason, which put a wrench in her first five’s chemistry. Edwards and Kitts played really well down low last season, something Staley was looking to build off this season.

At times the last two games but against UNC especially, it looked like South Carolina was shooting early in the shot clock or late on a closeout, likely due to some miscommunication.

“This is a totally different basketball team,” Staley said. “We don’t have the continuity, chemistry and flow that we need. It’s a lot better, even than when we played against Anderson.”

Staley said with so many scorers, her players are still learning sometimes making that extra pass “stabs a defense just a little deeper.”

How Chloe Kitts injury is impacting South Carolina

Losing Kitts meant Edwards’ role would get bigger but Staley will need help from everyone. Until game action, it was hard to see where exactly South Carolina would struggle most without her.

It was a quality night from Okot in her debut on Oct. 24 but she found herself in foul trouble early against UNC. That forced some early minutes from Maryam Dauda, who looked more dominant in the paint. She relied on her 3-point shot a lot last year but looks stronger now and attacked the offensive boards especially against UNC.

She had 10 points and five rebounds against UNC.

Adhel Tac is improving, too, but has only scored nine points in 23 minutes across two games. She is 6-foot-5 and if Dauda is giving Edwards rest at the forward spot, Tac will need to score if Okot is in foul trouble.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

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South-Carolina

How to watch TCU vs. South Carolina women’s basketball Elite Eight: TV, streaming

Published

2 hours ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

How to watch TCU vs. South Carolina women’s basketball Elite Eight: TV, streaming

South Carolina and TCU will battle in the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on Monday (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Sacramento, California.

The No. 1 Gamecocks are the top seeded team in the Sacramento 4 regional and aiming to make their sixth consecutive Final Four appearance under coach Dawn Staley. South Carolina, winner of three national championships under Staley, won the SEC regular season title but fell in the title game of the conference tournament to Texas.

The Gamecocks advanced to the Elite Eight by beating Oklahoma 94-68 behind 28 points from Ta’Niya Latson. Sophomore forward Joyce Edwards has powered the Gamecocks this season with 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

No. 3 TCU is in the Elite Eight for the second straight season under coach Mark Campbell. The Horned Frogs won the regular season title in the Big 12, but fell in the title game of the conference tournament to West Virginia.

TCU advanced to the regional final by defeating Staley’s alma mater, Virginia, 79-69 on Saturday night behind a career-high 33 points from Marta Suarez. Notre Dame transfer Olivia Miles has been the bus driver for TCU this season, averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game.

A victory for TCU would mark the program’s first trip to the Final Four. TCU has not played a team from the SEC this season.

The winner of this matchup will advance to the Final Four in Phoenix at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 1.

What time is South Carolina vs. TCU Elite Eight NCAA game?

Date: Monday, March 30
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California

The South Carolina Gamecocks play the TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, March 30 in Sacramento, California.

South Carolina vs. TCU: TV, streaming

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South-Carolina

Arkansas Women’s Tennis Defeats South Carolina

Published

14 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Women’s Tennis Defeats South Carolina

Daniel Haley
March 29, 2026

The No. 57 Razorbacks move to 11-10 (2-9) on the season after picking up a win against No. 27 South Carolina 9-10 (2-9).

The Hogs won the doubles point. No. 39 Carolina Gomez and Anet Koskel defeated No. 9 Helena Buchwald and Lauren Friedman, 6-3. Jimena Gomez and Alexandra Panagiotidou took down Sara Borkop and Jane Dunyon, 6-1.

The Razorbacks stayed hot during singles. No. 39 Carolina Gomez defeated No. 56 Kaitlyn Carnicella 7(7)-6(1), 3-6, 6-3 to seal the win. Alexandra Panagiotidou took down Taylor Goetz, 6-3, 6-3. Jimena Gomez defeated Jane Dunyon, 7-5, 6-3. Brooke Schafer fell to No. 52 Helena Buchwald, 7(7)-6(3), 6-2.

The Hogs will be back in action on Friday in Colombia, MO when they take on Missouri at 11:30 a.m.

Results from the match will be available on the women’s tennis schedule page.

For the latest information on all things Arkansas Women’s Tennis, follow the Hogs on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Women’s Tennis) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackWTEN).

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South Carolina vs TCU predictions for Elite Eight game in March Madness

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina vs TCU predictions for Elite Eight game in March Madness

SACRAMENTO, CA — No. 3 TCU took down No. 10 Virginia in the Sweet 16, preventing South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley from coaching against her college team in the Elite Eight of the Women’s NCAA Tournament.

The No. 1 seeded Gamecocks (34-3) will play the No. 3 seeded Horned Frogs (32-5) on March 30 (9 p.m. ET, ESPN) in Golden 1 Center.

South Carolina beat No. 4 seed Oklahoma 94-68 in the Sweet 16 before TCU beat Virginia 79-69.

The only time these two teams met was in 2024 when South Carolina won 85-52.

Dawn Staley has only coached against TCU once

This will be somewhat of an unfamiliar matchup for Staley, who has only coached one game against TCU, and the 2024-25 roster was much different than what she’ll see on March 30.

Last year’s TCU team was powered by players like Hailey Van Lith and Sedona Prince. Now it’s Olivia Miles who is running the show.

Only one starter from last year’s team returned, and TCU added six transfer players.

Coach Mark Campbell is in his third season but has been to two of the last three NCAA Tournaments. Last year the Horned Frogs lost to Texas in the Elite Eight.

Olivia Miles is TCU’s star point guard

Olivia Miles transferred to TCU from Notre Dame in a shocking offseason move after Miles was projected as a top-5 WNBA draft pick.

The senior guard is averaging 19.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists, coming off 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the Sweet 16.

She’s fifth in the nation in assists, 42nd in double-doubles with 12 total, and leads the nation in triple doubles with six.

Miles wasn’t healthy and didn’t play for Notre Dame against South Carolina in the 2023-24 season opener, so this is Staley’s first time scouting against one of the nation’s top ball handlers.

Marta Suarez, Clara Silva vs Joyce Edwards, Madina Okot

After fighting through Oklahoma’s post defense, South Carolina’s post players have a new challenge in TCU’s Marta Suarez. The 6-foot-3 Suarez is averaging 16.8 points and 7.4 rebounds, coming off 33 points and 10 rebounds in Sweet 16.

She’s tied with Miles with 12 double-doubles.

Clara Silva, 6-foot-7 center, is in her first season with TCU after one with Kentucky last year. Silva won’t be impacted by the SEC’s physicality given her freshman year experience and is averaging 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds for TCU.

She didn’t score against South Carolina last year at Kentucky but had two assists and a steal in seven minutes of action.

TCU leads Big 12 in points allowed, rebounds and point differential

The Horned Frogs have the top defense in the Big 12, allowing an average of 55.9 points per game. They are also first in rebounds with 41.7 per game and in point differential at +21.4.

South Carolina vs TCU prediction in Elite Eight

South Carolina 84, TCU 72: This could be the closest game for South Carolina this tournament and will come down to execution. But despite almost three 100-point games, the Gamecocks say they still have room to grow with their best basketball left to play.

Raven Johnson vs Olivia Miles will be the main guard matchup, with Clara Silva vs Madina Okot at the center spot and Marta Suarez vs Joyce Edwards. So expect players like Tessa Johnson or Ta’Niya Latson to try to step up for Staley.

Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬

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