SerpApi.Org
South Carolina women’s basketball guard Maddy McDaniel announced Thursday she is stepping away from the team to focus on her mental and emotional well-being. The junior is the expected successor to Raven Johnson at starting point guard for the 2026-27 season.
FULL STORY: Maddy McDaniel steps away from South Carolina women’s basketball team
Here are key takeaways:
- McDaniel shared her decision in a statement on social media. “I have decided to step away from the team to focus on my mental and emotional well-bring, to get back to my best self on all levels,” she said.
- No timetable has been set for her return, a USC athletics spokesperson told The State. Team workouts continue this summer, and official preseason practices typically begin in late September.
- Last season, McDaniel averaged 4.3 points in 33 games, mostly off the bench, and logged a career-high 19.7 minutes per game. Known as “Maddy Mouse,” she often led the second unit for a team dealing with depth issues.
- Head coach Dawn Staley voiced support for McDaniel’s decision. “If we see anyone in our program going through something, we give them the space and the grace to work through it,” Staley said in a release.
- McDaniel is expected to work her way back. Without her, Staley’s guard rotation would include Tessa Johnson, Ayla McDowell, Jordan Lee, Agot Makeer, Justine Loubens and Jerzy Robinson. Makeer or Robinson are the candidates most likely to absorb point guard duties.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
