South Carolina Women’s Basketball: Maddy McDaniel is Quiet, But Makes a Powerful Impact

In a quiet corner of the locker room, Maddy McDaniel sat at her locker, a bit lost in the moment. Despite playing just 14 seconds in the Gamecocks’ recent game on Sunday, none of that mattered. McDaniel was heading to the Final Four.

Known for her reserved nature, McDaniel doesn’t often seek the spotlight. While the Gamecocks’ daycare — as her teammates have affectionately dubbed themselves — is always full of energy, McDaniel stays on the sidelines, content in her own space. It’s almost as if she embraces her nickname, “Mouse.”

“I’m quiet, I’m small,” she says with a shrug.

However, don’t let her quiet demeanor fool you. McDaniel has made her presence felt on the court, and her game speaks volumes.

At the start of the season, expectations for McDaniel weren’t high. As a freshman on a deep and experienced backcourt, many assumed she’d spend the year learning from the sidelines. But McDaniel quickly proved she was too talented to remain benched.

Her playing time has varied throughout the season, but whenever McDaniel has stepped onto the court, she’s delivered. In the first-round blowout against Tennessee Tech, she logged 18 minutes, contributing two points and three assists.

“I feel great,” McDaniel shared after the game. “It was great to get out there, play with my teammates, get my feet wet. All that was great. It was fun, too, especially putting a 60-piece out, that was fun.”

One standout moment came when McDaniel threw a perfect lob to fellow freshman Adhel Tac. That play left fans, coaches, and teammates excited about the future, imagining more of those highlight-worthy lobs in the seasons to come.

“It was great cause like, it’s gonna be great (down) the line, me and Adhel finding that chemistry,” McDaniel said, reflecting on the moment. “It was good to go out there and get that little one thing for people to see, that little sneak peek.”

As the tournament progressed and games became more intense, McDaniel saw less time on the floor — one minute against Indiana, three against Maryland, and, if we’re being honest, essentially zero against Duke. Yet, Coach Dawn Staley has shown confidence in her freshman, entrusting McDaniel with crucial minutes when it matters most.

Against Indiana, Staley called on McDaniel for the final stretch of the third quarter, giving her a clear directive: score. McDaniel took full advantage, using a screen from Chloe Kitts to slip by her defender and convert a layup.

“She said this is your moment, use your speed,” McDaniel recalled. “That’s what she wanted. She said go downhill and do what you do.”

McDaniel executed perfectly, and that’s why Staley has continued to trust her in high-pressure situations.

“Maddy’s always learning, she’s always ready,” Staley said. “I thought that because Chloe was getting off, they were sticking more closely to her in the third quarter. I thought it would create an opportunity for Maddy to get to the basket and get a layup and she went and executed just that.”

Against Duke, McDaniel’s role was even smaller — just 14 seconds at the end of the third quarter. But it was enough for her to help Raven Johnson rest and avoid picking up a fourth foul. That stretch of time also coincided with a 10-0 run that ultimately shifted the momentum of the game.

Earlier in the tournament, McDaniel made it clear that she’s prepared to stay ready, even when there’s no certainty she’ll play.

“Yeah, I definitely feel prepared,” she said. “We had some good days in practice, good days. And then we had some good hours after practice too, even before, so I feel I feel real prepared.”

It’s easier to stay motivated when the team is winning, and right now, McDaniel is experiencing the best of it.

“I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” McDaniel said, reflecting on her journey. “I couldn’t have asked to be in a better position than to go to the Final Four in my freshman year.”

It’s clear that McDaniel’s quiet nature doesn’t detract from her impact — in fact, it may just make her contributions all the more powerful.