South Carolina’s backcourt took a major hit Friday when Dawn Staley announced that projected starting point guard Maddy McDaniel has withdrawn from the university and will not return to the Gamecocks.
McDaniel, who had already stepped away from the team three weeks earlier to focus on her mental health, was the only true point guard on the roster and was expected to step into the role left behind by Raven Johnson. Staley made clear the program is supporting her decision.
“We respected Maddy’s decision in July, and we continue to do that in this next step,” Staley said. “She has been a valued part of our program’s success, and she and her family will always be part of our Gamecock family. We wish her all the best as she chooses her future moves on and off the basketball court.”
Over two seasons at South Carolina, McDaniel helped the Gamecocks reach the national championship game and win SEC regular-season titles both years. She averaged 3.7 points and 2.2 assists in 15.6 minutes per game for her career.
In 2025-26, she led the SEC in league play with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover ratio and finished the season at 2.7 assists per game. Had she taken enough attempts to qualify, she would have led the country in assist-to-turnover ratio by a wide margin.
Her departure leaves South Carolina searching for answers at a spot it had penciled her in to handle. McDaniel spoke after the Final Four about how ready she was to take over for Johnson, but the Gamecocks now have to rework that plan.
One possible solution is rising senior Tessa Johnson, usually one of the team’s off-guards and a top 3-point threat. She has experience backing up Johnson as well as Te-Hina Paopao and Ta'Niya Latson, who also played behind Raven Johnson. Other options include sophomore Agot Makeer, who can work both on the block and up top, junior transfer Jordan Lee from Texas, and freshman Jerzy Robinson.
This is the second year in a row South Carolina has entered a season without a key contributor it expected to have. Last year, USC opened without sixth woman Ashlyn Watkins and starting forward Chloe Kitts, and neither played a minute. Even so, the Gamecocks still reached their sixth straight Final Four and third consecutive national championship game.
USC opens the season against Maryland on Nov. 2 in Paris.
South Carolina also added another high-profile nonconference matchup Friday, with Oklahoma State announcing a Dec. 6 game in Columbia. The Cowgirls, boosted by transfers Audi Crooks and Liv McGill, will host the return game at a neutral site in Oklahoma in 2027-28.
Staley’s schedule is once again loaded. The Gamecocks will also face North Carolina, Southern Cal and Connecticut at neutral sites, travel to Providence, Clemson and Duke, and are expected to take part in a tournament in Las Vegas.
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