Getty Image / © Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
The South Carolina women’s basketball team announced a midseason addition to the 2025-26 roster. Alicia Tournebize will play the second half of the year.
That signing should aid the Gamecocks in their national title pursuits. Head coach Dawn Staley celebrated the news on Monday while also settling a social media debate.
South Carolina is 12-1 and ranked No. 3 in the country with conference play quickly approaching. Last year, the team finished as the national runner-up. This year, it hopes to cut down the nets.
In order to better those odds, Staley secured an unexpected signature.
Who is Alicia Tournebize?
@fiba 17-year-old French standout Alicia Tournebize (192cm) dunks effortlessly 🔥 @bourgesbasket
The forward hails from Charmeil, France. She’s played the last few seasons in the Ligue Féminine de BasketBall, starting with its U15 program and working her way up to the professional roster on a “training-intern contract” this year.
It’s a path similar to that of her mother, FIBA Hall of Famer Isabelle Fijalkkowski, who played at Colorado, in the WNBA, and internationally.
In league games, Tournebize averaged 7.7 minutes and shot 53.3 percent from the field, including a 12-point performance in her debut. She brings incredible versatility and athleticism to the roster. She throws down a mean slam dunk!
“Alicia has an incredible skill set and basketball IQ. She has great touch around the rim, can shoot it out to the 3-point line and is a shot blocker. We’re excited that she and her family chose to bring her game to Columbia, and the FAMS are going to enjoy what she adds to our team on the court and off.”
-Dawn Staley
Tournebize will join the roster in the spring semester as a freshman. She will be available in SEC play. Her bio is already listed on the athletics website.
There was one question mark surrounding the signing. A rumored height discrepancy followed the South Carolina women’s basketball announcement. Dawn Staley clarified.
How tall is the newest Gamecock?
@overtimewbb Dawn did her big one with this recruit 👀 #aliciatournebize
Alicia Tournebize is listed at 6′ 4″ on nearly all of her past playing rosters. She was tabbed as being 6′ 4″ on her South Carolina bio, too.
There were whispers that she’d actually been three inches taller.
Alicia Tournebize, YOU are already on the South Carolina roster…and YOU are not 6’4.
(She’s 6’7) https://t.co/Y9b4WEox9R pic.twitter.com/Z40QejFSVe
— Skim Milkey (@SkimMilkey) December 22, 2025
Dawn Staley posted a GIF on social media to end speculation. She says her new signee is, indeed, 6-foot-7.
Yes SIX SEVEN!! 👹👹👹 pic.twitter.com/y2VrqmYGEY
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) December 22, 2025
That makes Tournebize more than a foot taller than her 5′ 6″ coach. She will soon tower over her new leader on the sidelines.
The forward is set to join the Gamecocks’ squad after the holiday break.