USC’s Tiffany Mitchell undergoes foot surgery

The good news is it’s not expected to hinder her senior season.

The bad news is that “surgery” is never a good word to hear, especially when it involves South Carolina’s most indispensable player.

The Gamecocks announced Thursday that two-time SEC Player of the Year Tiffany Mitchell had surgery to repair a stress-related injury in her left foot. Mitchell won’t miss anything unless she’s still ailing on Aug. 20, when the fall semester begins.

USC says that the injury is not expected to delay Mitchell’s 2015-16 season.

Mitchell, USC’s leading scorer the past two seasons and the first Gamecock to be named a finalist for all three national player of the year awards, is a two-time All-American and Dawn Staley Award winner. Chosen for Team USA in the Pan American Games, Mitchell sprained her ankle in an exhibition game and didn’t play throughout the tournament.

When USC medical director Dr. Jeffrey Guy recently examined the ankle, he found the stress injury. Mitchell underwent surgery last week.

Mitchell is expected to be fine and the Gamecocks return 11 letter-winners from last year’s 34-3 Final Four team, with plenty of pieces able to cover for Mitchell if she’s rusty at the start.

USC opens the season on Nov. 13 at home against Ohio State.

This story was originally published August 6, 2015 at 1:24 PM with the headline "USC’s Tiffany Mitchell undergoes foot surgery."