How Dawn Staley deals with USC’s lineup changes. ‘The game is about adjusting’
South Carolina women’s basketball is 22-2 this season and currently atop the SEC with an 8-1 record in conference play. Based on that, one could assume Dawn Staley and the No. 3 Gamecocks have breezed through the 2025-26 season with little to no hiccups.
But in reality, each time it seems like South Carolina has found a rhythm this season, something disrupts Staley’s lineup and rotation.
South Carolina has used six different starting lineups this season. Before this season, there had been just one instance since the 2019 when the Gamecocks used more than three starting lineups in a given season. That one outlier was the 2023-24 season when South Carolina trotted out nine different starting lineups en route to a national title, per Sports-Reference.
The Gamecocks have dealt with players missing time for various reasons all season. The latest includes injuries to guards Ta’Niya Latson and Agot Makeer. Both players missed South Carolina’s game on Monday at Texas A&M with leg injuries and the verdict is still out on when they’ll be ready to go again.
The official SEC injury report on Wednesday night will tell if they’ll be available for Thursday’s game with Mississippi State. Both players were seen at practice Wednesday afternoon, though Latson was seen with a brace on her left knee. South Carolina was able to get a win without Latson and Makeer on Monday. That gives Staley some confidence her team will be ok if the two can’t go Thursday.
“The game is about adjusting,” Staley said. “No matter who you have, no matter if you have a full roster, it’s about adjusting and putting our team in the best possible situation. I think the last two days will help just, if we have (Makeer) or Ta’Niya or not.”
Only 2 players have played in all USC’s games this season
So far this season, Joyce Edwards and Raven Johnson are the only two Gamecocks who have played in all 24 of South Carolina’s games. Makeer, Latson, Maddy McDaniel, Tessa Johnson, Madina Okot and Adhel Tac have all missed time this season due for various reasons including suspension, injury or illness. South Carolina also added a new wrinkle to the rotation with the mid-year addition of French forward Alicia Tournebize.
The constant tweaking of rotations and lineups can affect the team’s chemistry, Staley admitted Wednesday.
“There are times that we have great chemistry out there, and there are times that we don’t have it,” Staley said. “We got to catch it when we can. We can’t force it, as much as we want to force it, and play a certain way. We actually have to play according to how they wake up each and every day. And that’s different. Is it great? No, it’s not great. But if you’re coaching, and you know that’s what it is, that’s how you got to play to it.”
Putting players ‘where they can be effective’
In the days since the 15-point win over Texas A&M, Staley said South Carolina has been working to put her players in the best place to be effective. For example, Staley said the Gamecocks need better connection from her bigs who have had trouble consistently producing in recent games.
“I think offensively, we did some things that hopefully will clear up some things and put people in positions where they can be effective, and it doesn’t impact the space on the floor, because that’s what’s really been impacted,” Staley said. “So hopefully we can open the floor up a little bit and allow our guards to maneuver a little bit and put our bigs in a situation where they actually can be effective.”
At the end of the day, South Carolina is still finding a way to win games. The Gamecocks are still one of the best teams in the country in various statistical categories, including being top five in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
While a big piece of being able to consistently produce on that level (despite constant disruption to the rotation) is having a generally loaded roster, it also helps that Staley is willing to adapt to what works best for what she has available on any given night.
“I’m stubborn, but I’m not stubborn enough to just keep trying to do it [if] it’s not working,” Staley said. “We’re going to keep trying to figure out what’s the best offenses that we can utilize to get the most out of our players in the most consistent way. So we’re still trying. We’re still winning basketball games, but it doesn’t look good, and it really doesn’t have to look good. As long as we’re winning, and we’re figuring it out, we’re always in constant motion and trying to get the best out of them on any given day.”
South Carolina women’s basketball’s next game
- Who: No. 3 South Carolina vs Mississippi State
- When: Thursday, Feb. 5 at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC
- TV: SEC Network (Tiffany Greene, Carolyn Peck)
- Radio: 107.5 FM or Sirius XM Channels 106 and 190 (Brad Muller)
This story was originally published February 4, 2026 at 3:52 PM.
