Another French prospect joins Dawn Staley’s USC roster. Here’s what to know
Dawn Staley has filled out the 2026-27 South Carolina women’s basketball roster with another international prospect.
The Gamecocks signed French player Justine Loubens, USC announced Wednesday.
“We’re excited to bring Justine into our Gamecock family,” Staley said in a statement. “She is one of the best shooters coming out of France, and her experience playing for her club and national teams have helped prepare her for the SEC battles to come.”
Loubens is coming off a stint with La Rouce Vendee, a professional team in France’s premier women’s pro league, Ligue Féminine de BasketBal. In 24 games she averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 63.9% from the field.
The 6-foot-1 guard is 18 years old and will have four years of college eligibility. She follows forward Alicia Tournebize as the second French player on South Carolina’s roster. Loubens is the third player in program history to hail from France.
Loubens is originally from L’Isle-Jourdain, which is located in the southern part of France. L’Isle-Jourdain is roughly five hours from Tournebize’s hometown of Nichy, France. It’s just over seven hours from Paris, where South Carolina will open its 2026-27 season in the Oui Play event against the Maryland Terrapins.
Loubens and Tournebize have teamed up for the French International team in the past. The two were teammates at the FIBA U18 Women’s EuroBasket tournament in 2025 and the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2024. Loubens averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds per game at the event last year and averaged 11.3 points per game at the U17 world cup in 2024.
The addition of Loubens brings South Carolina’s roster to a full 15 players, a rarity during Staley’s tenure at South Carolina. Staley typically only has 13 players on a roster, but this season the Gamecocks will carry the maximum players allowed.
South Carolina women’s basketball 2026-27 roster
- Returners: Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson, Agot Makeer, Ayla McDowell, Maddy McDaniel, Alicia Tournebize, Adhel Tac, Chloe Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins
- Incoming freshmen: Jerzy Robinson, Kaeli Wynn, Kelsi Andrews, Oliviyah Edwards and Justine Loubens
- Incoming transfers: Jordan Lee (Texas)
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Another French prospect joins Dawn Staley’s USC roster. Here’s what to know."
