COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball guard Maddy McDaniel’s suspension has been lifted and she’s returned to team activities, the program announced Nov. 20
The program revealed McDaniel’s return to practice via social media.
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There was a picture of McDaniel from practice and a caption referencing 10 players on the roster, and South Carolina confirmed she’s been reinstated from her suspension.
McDaniel, a sophomore, has been suspended since Nov. 11 for a reason coach Dawn Staley did not disclose. She was injured prior to her suspension and has missed a total of four games this season, one due to injury and three due to suspension.
No. 2 South Carolina (5-0) was down to only nine players with McDaniel out but went 4-0 with a short bench. The Gamecocks most recently beat Winthrop on Nov. 19, 106-56, and now will host Queens on Nov. 23 (2 p.m. ET, SEC Network+).
The program revealed the news of McDaniel’s suspension via X on Nov. 11, an hour before tipoff against Clemson, a game the No. 2 Gamecocks won 65-37. Staley addressed McDaniel’s suspension after the game but hasn’t since.
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McDaniel was injured in the Gamecocks’ opening game vs Grand Canyon on Nov. 3. Staley said the injury was a result of “knee to knee” contact. She was wearing a brace on the sideline for the game Nov. 7 against Bowling Green but didn’t go in.
Staley said Nov. 10 McDaniel “probably” won’t play against Clemson. McDaniel was not seen toward the end of practice when media availability began, then Staley said McDaniel was rehabbing.
As a freshman McDaniel averaged 11 minutes and 3.1 points per game off the bench. This season she is likely to get more playing time serving as a backup for starting point guard Raven Johnson.
She scored eight points and had two assists in eight minutes against Grand Canyon before she was injured in the third quarter.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Maddy McDaniel suspension ended by Dawn Staley after 3 games
