Latest availability report ahead of South Carolina women’s basketball’s matchup with Vanderbilt

South Carolina women’s basketball FAMs hope this Sunday is different. The Gamecocks are on a two-game Sunday losing stream right now, having lost on the road to the Texas Longhorns and at home to the UConn Huskies. This Sunday, USC won’t face off against a top 10 opponent like Texas or UConn, but they will play against one of the best players in the country in Mikayla Blakes and a dangerous team in the Vanderbilt Commodores.

South Carolina’s trip to Nashville won’t be a ranked matchup, but the Commodores have earned AP top-25 rankings at times this season. The contest marks three consecutive Quad 1 challenges for the Gamecocks to finish the regular season. For Dawn Staley’s team to claim another SEC regular season championship (at least a share of it, anyway), they likely have to win out against the tough draw.

Outside of the expected, injuries should not play a role in Sunday’s matchup with Vanderbilt.

Per the SEC-mandated availability report on Saturday night, the SEC foes will be as close to full strength as possible.

For South Carolina, junior forward Ashlyn Watkins continues her appearance on the list. The All-SEC talent will not play the rest of this season as she rehabs a torn ACL. Coach Dawn Staley didn’t include any other Gamecocks on the report.

Vanderbilt is in a similar position. Post player Sacha Washington has been out all season after a strong 2023-2024 campaign. She remains out as she deals with a blood clot. Guard Leilani Kapinus is battling a knee injury but played last time out against Oklahoma. Vandy coach Shea Ralph did not include Kapinus on the availability report after listing her as questionable ahead of Oklahoma.

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During the offseason, the SEC approved a new policy that mandates availability reports for conference games. The reports will be required for football, men’s and women’s basketball, and baseball. For football, teams submit reports on Wednesday and then update them each day until a final report 90 minutes before game time. For basketball and baseball, reports will be submitted the evening before a game and then updated on game day.

The availability reports will use designations such as “available,” “probable,” “questionable,” “doubtful,” and “out” to describe how likely it is that a particular player will suit up for the next conference game. On game day, those designations will shift to “out” or “game-time decision.” The reports model professional sports leagues’ injury reports.

Win tickets to Senior Day, South Carolina-Kentucky women’s basketball game

South Carolina and Vanderbilt will tip off at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The game will not be on television, but it will stream on SEC Network+.

The Gamecocks enter the contest with a 24-3 overall record and a 12-1 mark in conference play that tie them for the SEC lead. The Commodores own a 19-8 overall record and a 6-7 record in conference play.

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