When South Carolina fell short in the championship game against UConn last season, Dawn Staley didn’t sulk on the loss. That’s just not who she is. Instead, she was already plotting the comeback. “I’m as excited for what our team will look like next year,” Staley said afterward. “I do think they’ll be talented enough to get here, especially with getting in the transfer portal and getting some experienced pieces that can help with this young group.” And if the first game of this season is any indication, Gamecocks fans might want to buckle up!

South Carolina opened their new season, marking Dawn Staley’s 18th year as head coach, with a statement win at home over Grand Canyon. The Gamecocks cruised to a dominant 94–54 victory, winning by a 40-point margin. And to make the night even sweeter, the team had a special surprise in store for their fans.

The Gamecocks’ basketball page on X announced that they’re heading back to France! South Carolina will open the 2026–27 season against Maryland in Paris on November 2, 2026. It’ll be their first trip back since the inaugural Paris Game in 2023, when they faced Notre Dame and went on to complete a perfect, undefeated championship season.

Things have only gotten bigger since the inaugural Oui Play event. What started as a single matchup has now turned into a full doubleheader, hosted at the brand-new Adidas Arena. It’s the same venue used during the Paris 2024 Olympics. The arena, which opened earlier that year, holds 9,000 fans, nearly double the 5,000-seat capacity of the Halle Georges Carpentier Arena where South Carolina played back in 2023, as per journalist Lulu Kesin.

This year’s Oui Play showcase in Paris delivered some thrilling matchups. Baylor battled past Duke in a hard-fought 58–52 win, while Vanderbilt powered through Cal 75–65. Last season’s event was a memorable one as well. We got to watch Louisville face UCLA and Ole Miss take on USC!

To make the announcement even more special, the University dropped details of the “Oui Play Fam Package”  and it’s a dream come true for die-hard Gamecocks fans. The package includes:

• 1 VIP game ticket with hospitality
• 1 ticket to both games of the doubleheader, which also features Oklahoma vs. North Carolina
• 1 ticket to a private Seine River dinner cruise with the participating teams
• 1 VIP meal with the team
• Transportation in Paris to and from all package events for 1

The tickets are available on the university website. So, go grab them before they get sold out!

Turning our attention back to this season, it was the perfect start for Dawn Staley and her squad. The new signings couldn’t have asked for a better debut!

Dawn Staley’s statement move shines bright!

Without a doubt, the biggest move of the offseason was South Carolina and Dawn Staley landing Ta’Niya Latson through the transfer portal. The nation’s top scorer last year, averaging 25.2 points per game, chose to join a program known for its depth and balance rather than building around a single star. After all, even superstars like A’ja Wilson, Aliyah Boston, and Kamilla Cardoso never averaged 20 points a game — let alone 25. So naturally, Latson’s decision raised a few eyebrows.

But Latson didn’t come to South Carolina just to chase a championship — she came to reunite with her high school teammate, Raven Johnson. Johnson, who’s been the Gamecocks’ starting point guard for the past two seasons, shared the floor with Latson once again, and together they shone in their season opener against the Grand Canyon Antelopes.

Latson led the charge with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting and added 4 assists, while Johnson came close to a triple-double with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, showing just how strong their chemistry still is. The win was extra special for coach Dawn Staley, as it came against her former assistant Winston Gandy.

Up next, the Gamecocks will face Bowling Green at Colonial Life Arena, a game they are expected to win comfortably, with ESPN giving them a 99 percent chance of victory. These early-season matchups will help Staley build rhythm and chemistry before SEC play begins, where South Carolina will be ready to make a statement.