South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley announced on Apr. 29 that Justine Loubens from L’Isle-Jourdain, France, will join the Gamecocks with four years of eligibility starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
Loubens’ addition is seen as a significant move for the team as she brings international experience and strong shooting ability. “We’re excited to bring Justine into our Gamecock family,” Staley said. “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 most recently played in France’s top women’s professional league, Ligue Féminine de BasketBall, with La Rouce Vendee. She averaged 6.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 64 percent from the field over 24 games. In the previous season, she appeared in 22 games for Centre Dederal BB Paris in France’s second-tier league, where she averaged almost eight points along with contributions in rebounds and steals.
On the international stage, Loubens has represented France at three FIBA junior competitions. She teamed up with current Gamecock freshman Alicia Tournebize during events in both 2024 and 2025. At the FIBA U18 Eurobasket event in 2025, France finished third with Loubens averaging over seven points per game on efficient shooting percentages. In addition, she was France’s leading scorer at the FIBA U17 World Cup in 2024.
Loubens will be part of a recruiting class that includes Kelsi Andrews, Oliviyah Edwards, Jerzy Robinson and Kaeli Wynn. Junior transfer Jordan Lee will also join South Carolina’s roster for the upcoming season.
The arrival of these new players signals ongoing efforts by South Carolina to strengthen its women’s basketball program ahead of future Southeastern Conference competition.
