CLEMSON – On a crisp November Monday afternoon, Clemson public address announcer Jeff Holley called out the Tigers’ starting lineup for the first time in the 2026-27 season.
Among the starting Tigers were returning guards Mia Moore and Rusne Augustinaite, along with St. Mary’s transfer Edie Clarke, former Virginia Tech Hokie Mackenzie Nelson and UNC convert Taliyah Henderson.
In Clemson’s eventual 68-47 season-opening victory over Radford, those three transfers combined for 36– or 53 percent– of the Tigers’ points. In their respective first times in Clemson uniforms, the Tiger transfers did not take long to introduce themselves to a favorable home crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum.
“It was fun, the first time seeing the locker room this morning and putting the jersey on, it was just official,” Nelson said after the win. “We have so many practices behind closed doors. It’s just exciting to be able to put it out and get started.”
Though Nelson finished as the team’s leader with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, she provided much more than just scoring for Shawn Poppie’s squad. The senior finished with three assists, two steals and led the Tigers fast break offense for the majority of four quarters. In turn, Clemson finished with 28 points off of Radford turnovers to the Highlanders’ four.
Still, Nelson feels that the Tigers still have room to grow in their fast break chemistry, especially with the addition of eight newcomers to Poppie’s third team at Clemson’s helm.
“I think it’s a little bit learning each other,” Nelson said. “I think probably some people have been in and out of rotations just with injuries and stuff. So, we’re still learning each other. I thought today we did a good job. I think that kind of got us going in the second half pushing in transition. And at the end of the day, we got a lot of good shots in transition. They didn’t fall, but I think that helped us.”
Beside her, Henderson finished with 15 points and led the team with six rebounds, as well as a plus/minus of 24. In the Tigers’ 22-10 run in the third quarter that opened up a 27-27 halftime result, the sophomore served as a spark plug with nine points, as well as both of her steals.
Nelson’s third-quarter assist, in the meantime, set up a Clarke three-pointer that took Clemson’s first lead of the half.
Clarke finished with five points, five rebounds and two steals.
After the Melbourne, Australia native’s first shot from long range in a Tigers’ uniform, Clemson never trailed again.
“Well, me and Mack did a great job of bringing energy, bringing a pace on the offensive end,” Henderson said. “I took it as a responsibility to kind of help them out and help bring some of that energy on defense. I think that it helped lift our team up and eventually it caused not just me but Meeyah Green and Mack and Mia (Moore) to go on runs.”
In addition to the transfer portal players, three Clemson freshmen also contributed to the Tigers’ victory. After battling injuries this offseason, former Top-100 recruits Julia Scott and Kimora Fields checked in off the bench and each added a basket. The pair combined for five rebounds and two assists.
Fellow freshman Meeyah Green also got an extended 11 minutes of playing time, knocking down a triple on the wing for her first Clemson bucket.
All in all, Poppie was pleased with his new additions following Clemson’s 13th consecutive season-opening victory.
“I’m excited about their journey for what they’re going to become because they’ve not even scratched how good they could be,” Clemson’s leader said.
The Tigers will have their next chance to add onto the victory Thursday, when they will host East Tennessee State University at Littlejohn Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
—photo courtesy of Clemson Athletic Communications