COLUMBIA — Defending national champion South Carolina women’s basketball finally gets the chance to play against new faces, after weeks of practicing against its own players.
The Gamecocks play Memphis on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) in an exhibition game as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedExForum.
Tuesday is the first of two exhibition games before the season opener on Nov. 4, against Michigan in Las Vegas.
Here’s what to know before tipoff on Tuesday:
South Carolina women’s basketball injury update
Freshman guard Maddy McDaniel will not play against Memphis, coach Dawn Staley said at practice Monday.
During her senior year at Bishop McNamara, McDaniel injured her knee and had surgery to repair a torn meniscus before arriving at South Carolina. She was at practice on Monday afternoon without a brace or crutches.
“She’ll be ready to rock and roll hopefully by the time we play Clayton State,” Staley said.
The Clayton State exhibition game is at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 28.
Staley said redshirt freshman forward Adhel Tac might not play Tuesday but has been practicing 100% so far. Tac injured her knee in high school in November 2023, then enrolled early at South Carolina for the spring semester to watch and learn while she recovered.
Without Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina developing its next post player
Staley has said twice in the past month that it’s the first time in 10 years the Gamecocks don’t have a go-to post player. Tac, senior Sania Feagin, Arkansas transfer Maryam Dauda and fifth-year player Sakima Walker are all working on developing into the next true post.
Kamilla Cardoso, the former South Carolina 6-foot-7 starting center, went in the WNBA draft. South Carolina used junior forwards Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts down low when Cardoso missed five games last season, but right now Staley doesn’t have Watkins, either.
Watkins was arrested on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping on Aug. 31. She is still suspended from team activities and is scheduled for a court appearance on Oct. 25.
South Carolina’s exhibition game vs Memphis all about lineups for Dawn Staley
Staley’s roster is loaded, which makes rotations tricky, especially because the bench scored 37 points in the national title game against Iowa. Last season, Cardoso started at center, with guards Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, Raven Johnson, and mainly Kitts as the forward.
“You’re going to explore lineups and substitutions,” Staley said. “It could change from game to game, that’s the type of team we have, we have so many players who can start for us.”
In a practice drill on Monday, there was a lineup with MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson, Paopao, Kitts and Feagin. Another lineup had Tessa Johnson playing with Hall, Raven Johnson, Dauda and Tac.
Staley confirmed the starters for Tuesday are Raven Johnson, Paopao, Hall, Kitts and Feagin.
What to know about freshman Joyce Edwards
Freshman Joyce Edwards, a five-star forward, brings elite talent to the forward group, and although Watkins’ long-term status is unknown, Edwards may come off the bench with Watkins, similar to Watkins and Kitts last season.
At 6-3, she’s versatile and may be used as a guard who can defend a forward, depending on the scheme.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS: South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley voted No. 1 in SEC preseason poll
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: What to know South Carolina women’s basketball exhibition vs Memphis
