South Carolina women’s basketball guard Maddy McDaniel recently announced she would be stepping away from basketball for the time being, citing mental health as the reason. The sophomore standout made a public announcement on her social media and advocated for athlete mental health, stating “every athlete knows that mental strength is just as valuable as their physical strength. It just doesn’t announce itself in the same way when it needs attention.” Head coach Dawn Staley has publicly supported McDaniel’s decision, commending her for the bravery it took. We are thankful to athletes like Maddy who are honest and vulnerable about their mental health in the public light. We are wishing her the best in her next steps.💚 #mentalhealth #uscbasketball #ncaa