Clemson women’s basketball coach Shawn Poppie confirmed that transfer guard Rachael Rose has fully recovered and is prepared for her first season with the Tigers. Rose, who transferred after showing early promise last year, missed most of the season because of a leg injury.
Poppie said her health is no longer a concern, quieting speculation about her availability. With the injury behind her, she is set to contribute immediately as she begins her first campaign in the ACC.
Shawn Poppie Ends Speculation on Rachael Rose’s Health at Clemson
Clemson women’s basketball coach Shawn Poppie addressed questions about the health of transfer guard Rachael Rose, confirming she is fully cleared for action ahead of the 2024-25 season.
“She’s all the way back healthy,” Poppie told On3. “She practiced with us the last three weeks of summer. It is exciting for us, because it was a little bit of a gamble coming off a hip surgery and not really sure what that was going to look like, but she is all the way full go.”
Clemson landed one of the best mid-major players in the country in Wofford’s Rachael Rose.
After being sidelined with injury most of last season, head coach Shawn Poppie gave @On3sports an update on her status and role moving forward.
READ: https://t.co/xTqqRsVkdV pic.twitter.com/o5lLIt9nTI
— Talia Goodman (@TaliaGoodmanWBB) August 21, 2025
Rose is set to join a Clemson squad that finished tied for 12th in the ACC last year. The Tigers struggled with consistency, and her addition provides much-needed scoring and versatility. While her recovery created uncertainty, Poppie said Rose’s performance in practice has confirmed her readiness.
Her role for the Tigers, however, is still being evaluated.
“I think we’re still trying to figure it out,” Poppie said. “Is she the 1, the 2? I think she’s going to find ways to play for us, because she’s tough and her legs have got back underneath her. She’s shot the ball to the level we thought we were getting. You think about, really, the last year she was healthy, she was one of four players in the country to have the numbers [she did].”
If Rose operates off the ball, Clemson already has another option to initiate the offense. Returner Mia Moore, a 5’6″ guard, could step into a primary ballhandling role while Rose slides into more of a scoring position.
Still, Poppie noted that the system could look different depending on the lineup.
“We have multiple guards that could do multiple things,” Poppie said. “So I’m not sold that we’re even going to really have a true point guard, just be playmakers within the actions, which means she’ll play a lot. Whether that means that she’s the 1 or 2, I’ll let other people decide what that looks like.”
For Clemson, Rose’s recovery removes one of the biggest concerns entering the season. Whether she becomes the primary floor general or a scoring threat alongside Moore, Poppie has made it clear she will play a significant role in shaping the Tigers’ backcourt.