COLUMBIA — South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley juggled her hands up and down, with a subtle smile on her face.
“You know, she is 6-7,” Staley said, chuckling, tossing her hands around in reference to the social media meme. “But, we’re super excited to have her here.”
Advertisement
The player Staley’s referring to is Alicia Tournebize, the 18-year-old 6-foot-7 forward from France who signed with the Gamecocks on Dec. 22. She was seen dunking in multiple games, according to social media.
Before signing with South Carolina, she played professional basketball for Tango Bourges Basket in France, where she averaged 12.1 points and 8.9 rebounds.
“I think we got a gem of a player,” Staley said. “She’s athletic, and she’s only 18 years old. We’re definitely going to have to get her in the weight room. But all in all, we’re excited.”
Why Dawn Staley adding Alicia Tournebize is perfect timing
Tournebize draws comparisons to former Gamecock and current center for the Chicago Sky, Kamila Cardoso. Both are 6-foot-7, which is the tallest any player has been under Staley’s tenure.
Advertisement
Tournebize should come in handy, considering senior forward Chloe Kitts is out for the season with a torn ACL she suffered in a practice in October. Forward Ashlyn Watkins also announced in July she’s taking the year off.
The No. 3 Gamecocks (13-1) have played with at most 10 players but sometimes eight or nine this season, battling illness and injuries.
Star guard Ta’Niya Latson was injured in South Carolina’s win over Providence Dec. 28, and Staley did not offer specifics on her condition after the win.
When will Alicia Tournebize play for South Carolina?
MORE: Dawn Staley gives Ta’Niya Latson injury update after South Carolina tops Providence
Advertisement
Staley wasn’t able to pinpoint an exact date that Tournebize is expected to play, considering she’s making a move from France to the United States. Staley is optimistic she can be in a Gamecocks uniform before the spring semester begins on Jan. 12.
“She has all these appointments and documentations that she needs to get here,” she said. “But hopefully we can get her here before school starts.”
Tournebize will likely work her way into the lineup the same way Adhel Tac and Maryam Dauda have behind starters Madina Okot and Joyce Edwards. Edwards is leading the team with 22 points per game, Okot is averaging 15.6.
On her visit, Tournebize went to the South Carolina football game on Nov. 22 with some players and then watched the women’s basketball game on Nov. 23 against Queens.
Advertisement
Tournebize’s mother Isabelle Fijalkowski played at Colorado and was drafted into the WNBA by the Cleveland Rockets where she played from 1997-98 before returning to play in Europe. Fijalkowski is getting inducted in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
South Carolina begins SEC play on Jan.1 at home against Alabama (2 p.m., SEC Network+).
Contributing: Lulu Kesin
Kamryn Jackson covers high school and college sports for the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, Greenville News, Anderson Independent Mail, and the USA TODAY Network. Please email her at KEJackson@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @KamxJack.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley updates when Alicia Tournebize can play for South Carolina
