The Gamecocks from South Carolina just got some great news. Coach Dawn Staley said that French freshman Alicia Tournebize might finally play on Thursday against Texas, which is ranked fourth. The team really needs a game-changer right now, and the 6-foot-7 phenom could be it.

Dawn Staley was hopeful about Tournebize’s readiness when she was on Carolina Calls.

She said, “She can’t wait to get out there and represent our team and our university, and hopefully, with these next couple of prep days, we might be able to see her on Thursday.”

This cautiously positive outlook came after Tournebize spent last weekend’s trip to Florida watching from the bench. This suggests that the coaching staff has been carefully helping her adjust to playing in college.

Why the worry?

Tournebize just quit playing professional basketball in France a few weeks ago, so she’s still getting used to it. But she has a great track record.

She scored an average of 12 points and grabbed 8.9 rebounds against top players at the U18 EuroBasket. South Carolina really needs her size and defense right now because Watkins and Kitts are hurt, and Feagin is gone.

Tournebize’s debut is a big relief for Gamecocks fans. The roster has had to rely heavily on the core group all season because there hasn’t been much interior presence, and the rotations have been short. The bench production has also been inconsistent.

Adding a player who is one of the tallest in the country and has shown she can move and play defense in different ways could change the way South Carolina plays. Her first game against a strong Texas team will be a quick test of how ready she is to play at the highest level.

Gamecocks fans celebrate as Dawn Staley prepares Alicia Tournebize for Texas

Fans were overjoyed when they found out that Tournebize could finally play on Thursday night. The excitement was because everyone had been looking forward to the 6-foot-7 freshman for months.

Her arrival meets South Carolina’s most pressing need. Fans saw Tournebize as the extra player the Gamecocks needed to compete at the highest level because their interior was stretched thin by injuries to Watkins and Kitts, and Feagin’s departure.

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“Yessss Alicia, take it to Texas. What a scene it will be Thursday night in the CLA,” one excited fan wrote, capturing the excitement surrounding her possible first performance. This feeling made sense because Texas beat South Carolina 66–64 in their meeting in November, leaving the Gamecocks wanting revenge. Adding Tournebize, who averaged 12 points and 8.9 rebounds at the U18 EuroBasket and showed she could compete with top international players, suddenly changed South Carolina’s chances against a tough opponent.

Another fan exclaimed, “So excited!!!!” while the next one read, “Yes, let’s go,” showing how happy everyone was that she was joining the rotation. Part of the reason for these reactions is Tournebize’s proven pedigree.

She made history last September as the first French woman to dunk in a game, showing that she was willing to make a difference on both ends of the floor. Joyce Edwards is already scoring 21 points per game. Adding Tournebize’s presence in the paint and ability to move around on defense could completely change how South Carolina’s offense and defense work against strong teams like Texas.

One wrote, “Dunk and come out win the game,” while another commented, “Show time.” These reactions boiled down to what fans really wanted: for Tournebize to step in right away and make a real difference. The shortened rotations and inconsistent bench play that hurt South Carolina all season had worn out the core players. Fans knew that new, athletic depth could give the team the boost it needed to beat top-tier teams and compete for national relevance.