South Carolina Gamecocks guard Maddy McDaniel has faced off-court issues throughout her college basketball career that have limited her potential. While she played 33 games in 2025-26 as a sophomore, McDaniel was indefinitely suspended throughout November. No reason was provided for the suspension, but McDaniel returned later that month.
When she returned, though, McDaniel struggled to find a groove as she had limited minutes throughout the rest of the season. McDaniel has decided to step away from the sport for now. On Thursday, the Gamecocks’ Instagram page uploaded a photo of McDaniel and her heartfelt message as she focuses on her mental health first.
“I’ve tried to just keep going, but right now I’m not giving my coaches, my teammates and the FAMS the version of myself that they deserve. So, I have decided to step away from the team to focus on my mental and emotional well-being, to get back to my best self on all levels. It is the strongest thing I can think of to do because of what being part of Gamecock Women’s Basketball means to me,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel is departing momentarily in the best interest of the team moving forward. There is no timetable given for her return, and she likely won’t be back in the near future, as McDaniel is alluding to living privately first. The young talent was supposed to enter her junior year in 2026-27 after averaging 3.7 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in her first two seasons.
Dawn Staley is in support of Maddy McDaniel stepping away from the team
Losing Maddy McDaniel momentarily means the South Carolina Gamecocks will have to look for a replacement in her role as a perimeter spark off the bench. Even with this, though, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley remains in support of McDaniel choosing herself first for the betterment of the team.
“If we see anyone in our program going through something, we give them the space and the grace to work through it. When they embrace that it may take more than that, we embrace that, too. Maddy’s decision is a difficult one for a young person to make, and I’m glad she felt our program was a safe place for her to make it,” Staley wrote.
Staley and her Gamecocks are looking to win the 2027 national title after they lost in the 2026 NCAA championship game to the UCLA Bruins 79-51.
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