​COLUMBIA — All 15 members of the South Carolina women’s basketball program are on campus for the summer session. The final arrival came from Justine Loubens, a freshman from France, who was still navigating the visa process. A video posted on July 9 shows her in Columbia, with sports performance coach Molly Binetti sharing a clip of Loubens on her Instagram story that simply read “Bonjour.”
The team’s presence in Columbia marks a pivotal moment as Dawn Staley continues to assemble depth for the 2026 season. The 6-foot-1 guard most recently played for La Roche Vendée Basket Club, where she averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 63.9 percent from the floor over 24 games. Loubens’ commitment to South Carolina came on April 29, making her the 15th player on this year’s roster under Staley.
Under NCAA rules, once summer school begins, teams are permitted eight weeks of sessions. South Carolina has already been back in Columbia since June 22, though several players joined later. For example, starting forward Joyce Edwards was delayed in arriving because she had commitments with USA Basketball and thus missed the team’s initial days of practice and team activities. Freshman guard Agot Makeer arrived June 30 after earning an invite to Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team training camp, explaining another timely addition to the program’s summer roster.
The overall effect is a robust, full-strength group for Staley as the team uses the summer to build chemistry, integrate new talent, and prepare for the upcoming season. Lulu Kesin, who covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network, has followed the program closely. She can be reached at LKesin@usatodayco.com, and she can be followed on X at @Lulukesin and on Bluesky at @bylulukesin.bsky.social. This coverage originated with Greenville News and was subsequently shared through the USA TODAY Network.
This article originally appeared in the Greenville News, detailing how Justine Loubens’ arrival from France after a visa delay gives Dawn Staley a full 15-player roster for the summer and positions the team to maximize practice time, team cohesion, and competitive readiness ahead of the upcoming season. The program’s summer presence, the recruitment of international players, and the incremental integration of returning stars collectively emphasize South Carolina’s continued emphasis on depth, versatility, and championship potential as they move forward.