At the time it just seemed like coach Dawn Staley was ending her press conference with a playful comment like she sometimes does.

It had just been announced that South Carolina women's basketball was going back to Paris for its 2026-27 season opener, just like her team did in the 2023-24 opener.

"It was a great trip, a great experience for our players," Staley said on Nov. 3, 2025. "And I hope we have a French player on our roster to take home, it's recruiting."

Now she doesn't just have one, but two players from France who will get to play with the Gamecocks in their home country. Sophomore Alicia Tournebize joined the team a month after Staley's comment, and then last April, she signed freshman Justine Loubens.

The No. 1 ranked Gamecocks play No. 17 Maryland on Nov. 2 (noon ET, ESPN) as part of the Oui-Play women's college basketball doubleheader.

The most important thing Staley wants them to experience while there is a win, calling it a "business trip," but the team flies out after a 6 a.m. practice on Oct. 28, leaving ample time for non-basketball related events.

"It's an opportunity for them to experience being in Ali's and Justine's home country," Staley said. "Also all the festivities and it's a great experience outside the basketball court. All those other things that really make the trip go."

Why South Carolina is returning to Paris

Staley took her team to the first Oui-Play event, as it marked the first NCAA regular-season basketball game in France. It's since become a four-team event, with Oklahoma and North Carolina playing after South Carolina and Maryland.

The first time South Carolina played in Paris, it was in Halle Georges Carpentier, an arena with a capacity of just 5,009. For context, Colonial Life Arena holds 18,000. Last year it moved to Adidas Arena, which has a capacity of 8,000 and is primed for sporting events like this one.

The event is run by Complete Sports Management, a company that puts on international football and men's and women's college basketball games.

With the increased international talent in NCAA basketball, the games are a good recruiting opportunity for all coaches involved. Maryland has three international players, Oklahoma has four - including one from Draveil, which is 11 miles south of central Paris, and North Carolina has three.

"It's a (chance to) showcase what other opportunities there are for women, especially women growing up in other countries," Staley said. "They probably grew up wanting to be pros. There's an opportunity for them to get an education in the U.S., experience March Madness, experience just life in a different country ... if we can find another Frenchy, I think it would be great for us and our program."

Dawn Staley's connection to Paris

This summer, associate head coach Lisa Boyer told The Greenville News that it's a coincidence Staley has two French players right now and that recruiting-wise, the team's interest certainly spans beyond just one country.

Staley did however play in France for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre between college and getting drafted into the WNBA in 1999.

She's been back for work and fashion-related events since, and was in Paris for the entire 2024 Summer Olympics, as well. Only three current players - Chloe Kitts, Tessa Johnson and Ashlyn Watkins - were on the team that went to start the 2023-24 season.

"I'm very excited," South Carolina star forward Joyce Edwards said. "Paris is a great place to be. Just an honor to have the opportunity to play there, and we want to give it our all."

Edwards and guard Agot Makeer have played a lot of international basketball as of late, with Edwards playing for USA basketball and Makeer playing for Canada. But neither have been to Paris.

The last time the Gamecocks played in France was also the most recent year they won a national championship, as they went undefeated with the victory over Notre Dame the first of 38.

"I think they're really excited," Staley said. "Especially Ali and Justine, but everybody that didn't experience it (in 2023)."