COLUMBIA — Dawn Staley tapped her hand on the table as she gave an answer all in one breath.

“I pray for that,” Staley said when asked Dec. 7 if South Carolina women’s basketball might get any of its high school signees to enroll early to help with the roster limitations she has dealt with through 10 games.

Staley laughed before repeating “Who knows?” three times. But that feeling of hope that maybe someone could start their college journey early was short-lived.

“Actually no, not the ones we have signed,” Staley said. “They’re all committed to their high schools.

No. 3 South Carolina (9-1) started the 2025-26 season with 10 healthy players. Through injuries, suspension and illness Staley has had two games with a full roster. The Gamecocks finished their Dec. 7 win vs North Carolina Central with seven players.

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And even if they weren’t committed to graduating on a normal schedule, the two 2026 signees, Kaeli Wynn and Kelsi Andrews, are both dealing with their own injuries.

On Oct. 26, Andrews posted a video on Instagram regarding a surgery on her knee. On Dec. 3, the Orange County Register reported that Wynn will undergo surgery for a dislocated kneecap and will miss her senior season.

In December 2022 Chloe Kitts joined the team after enrolling early and played in her first game on Dec. 18, after just three practices. Kitts is now a senior but had she not done that she’d only be a junior.

In September Kitts tore her ACL and is missing this entire season, which means she can return next year.

Why Dawn Staley’s South Carolina roster has just 10 players

Ashlyn Watkins announced in July she’d be taking a year off of basketball, then two months later Kitts announced she tore her ACL. Before the first tip-off, Staley was down two players, both star forwards.

Staley lost Maddy McDaniel in the third quarter of the opener to a knee injury, then during her recovery, McDaniel was suspended, missing a total of four games from Nov. 7-23.

The only two games with a full roster were the Duke and Texas games in Las Vegas Nov. 26-27. But Agot Makeer went into concussion protocol then South Carolina lost Tessa Johnson to illness on Dec. 7. Madina Okot also felt sick, missing the second half against NC Central, leaving Staley with seven for two quarters, the lowest number available so far.

There won’t be an update on their status vs Penn State on Dec. 14 (3:30 p.m., ESPN) until Dec. 12.

Staley can’t talk about any prospect unless they are signed and the early period closed on Nov. 19. Staley is still actively recruiting players for her 2026 class, including the No. 5 recruit Jerzy Robinson from California and 6-foot-4 French prospect Alicia Tournebize.

Picking up one or both of those players would greatly enhance what is already a quality recruiting class. But unless there is a wrinkle for international players like Tournebize, which allows them to sign outside the early window, it won’t solve the problem of a short-bench this season.

Why Dawn Staley doesn’t have walk-on players

A NCAA Division I team can have 15 scholarship players and in some cases, teams have walk-ons who aren’t on scholarship. The most recent time Staley had one was Olivia Thompson, who began her career as a walk-on in 2019 but was eventually put on scholarship before the 2020-21 season.

Staley has an all-male practice squad, which is common for high-level women’s basketball teams. She also doesn’t typically use all 15 spots, with her rosters often 12-14 players on average.

Earlier this season, Staley was asked if she’d ever consider holding tryouts for walk-ons given her small roster, but she said they wouldn’t go that route. Her reasoning was never wanting to put that much pressure on a walk-on.

“This is the highest level you can be and to just fill a body with the body just for the sake of it, it’s too pressure-packed,” Staley said Nov. 6.