Ever since the Finals loss to UConn in last year’s NCAA Tournament, Dawn Staley has been eyeing a comeback. And with the roster she built, it certainly seemed possible. But as this season unfolds, challenges are starting to get in the way. That’s because, after Chloe Kitts’ season-ending injury, another key player is now out of the picture. Well, we’re talking about Maddy McDaniel.

What is Maddy McDaniel known for?

McDaniel is a valuable addition to SC’s roster. She’s got the skills – and a calming presence – that make her a deadly combo on the court. As Te-Hina Paopao put it best, “She has a calming presence. She knows when to go, knows when not to go, plays with really good pace and tempo, and she’s just really good,” she said last December.

It’s no surprise to hear those words. Especially since they came right after the Gamecocks defeated Duke 81–70 in the ACC Challenge – a game where McDaniel played a key role. So, that’s the kind of phenom she was during her freshman season. She played 30 games and averaged 3 points per game. So, coming into her sophomore year, she’s expected to be a real game-changer. But, for that, she needs to play.

Why Isn’t Maddy McDaniel Playing?

During SC’s season opener against Grand Canyon, McDaniel took a hard hit and went down, needing help off the court. After the 94–54 win over Winston Gandy’s team, Coach Dawn Staley addressed the incident, saying she wasn’t “too worried” since it was just knee-on-knee contact.

But, later, McDaniel was spotted wearing a knee brace during the November 7th game against Bowling Green and wasn’t fit to play. So, she was expected to make a full recovery soon. But before that could happen, Gamecocks dropped a shocking update. 

Just over an hour before their matchup against Clemson, the Gamecocks announced on X: “Maddy McDaniel will not be at tonight’s game. She has been suspended.” Well, coming in the 11th-hour decision surprised everyone. Still, South Carolina went on to cruise past Clemson 65–37 – their 15th straight win over the Tigers. And right after the game, Staley came up to respond! 

Why Did Dawn Staley Suspend Maddy McDaniel?

When asked if McDaniel would return for Saturday’s matchup against Southern Cal., Staley replied, “Doubt it,” adding that McDaniel’s return depends on her own actions: “That’s on her. We’ll evaluate it every day.” Then, she refused to share the reason behind McDaniel’s suspension or clarify how long it would last. But one thing is clear – it’s not an ideal situation for either McDaniel or South Carolina. 

With Chloe Kitts out for the season due to an ACL tear and Ashlyn Watkins likely taking a year off, Staley’s roster is already thin. Without McDaniel, the Gamecocks are down to just nine available players. That’s far from what Staley’s squad looks like. She relies heavily on her bench rotation to counter tough opponents. Still, she remains firm in her principles. With three wins already under her belt, she’s focused on moving forward.

As she said, “As much as I can get mad at what’s happening out there on the floor, when you really look at it, we’re just a really young basketball team – inexperienced, having to play together. So, we gotta go through some things… it challenged us to be more disciplined. If we didn’t, we lose the basketball game.” So, doesn’t matter how tough it gets, she’ll keep pushing. Are you looking forward to seeing McDaniel back on the court?