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South Carolina

South Carolina women's basketball picks up way-too-early No. 1 ranking

by: Kevin Miller05/19/25kevinbmiller52
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. Photo by: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley. Photo by: Katie Dugan | GamecockCentral

South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley didn’t have the chance to cut down the nets following the 2024-2025 season as the Gamecocks fell to the UConn Huskies in the National Championship Game. However, USC might have gotten better this offseason and will be a favorite to win next year’s title.

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According to On3’s Talia Goodman, South Carolina isn’t a favorite to win it all next year. Instead, Goodman believes that the Gamecocks are THE championship favorite. In a story published on Monday titled “Way-Too-Early women’s college basketball Top 25: Ranking the top teams in 2025-2026,” Goodman listed Coach Staley’s team at the very top.

South Carolina is the top program in the sport. They have made five Final Fours in a row, winning two championships. The Gamecocks also have earned five of the last six SEC championships and five of six SEC Tournament titles.

There are still almost six months on the calendar before the first game of the 2025-2026 season. However, with all of Carolina’s recent success and a revamped roster, it makes sense that Goodman ranked them on top.

Five players from the 2024-2025 roster will not be with the Gamecocks next season. Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall, and Sania Feagin all came off the board in the second round of this spring’s WNBA Draft (Paopao and Feagin made the opening rosters for the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks, respectively), Sakima Walker transferred to Cal, and then MiLaysia Fulwiley hit the portal for LSU.

As things stand, four players are joining South Carolina’s roster this offseason. Transfers Ta’Niya Latson (Florida State) and Madina Okot (Mississippi State) are already in Columbia. Latson was the country’s leading scorer last season, and Okot was one of the top double-double threats in the SEC. The Gamecocks signed two 5-star freshmen in the class of 2025, too. Versatile wings Agot Makeer and Ayla McDowell were both McDonald’s All-Americans and were good enough to help out next winter.

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South Carolina was one of eight SEC teams in Goodman’s top 25. Joining them were the Texas Longhorns (3), LSU Tigers (5), Tennessee Lady Volunteers (7), Oklahoma Sooners (8), Vanderbilt Commodores (14), Kentucky Wildcats (18), and Ole Miss Rebels (22). The Mississippi State Bulldogs were included as honorable mentions. Other notable teams or ones on USC’s schedule (or possible additions to the schedule) who made Goodman’s list included the UConn Huskies (2), UCLA Bruins (4), Duke Blue Devils (6), North Carolina Tar Heels (9), NC State Wolfpack (11), Notre Dame Fighting Irish (25), and Southern Cal Trojans (honorable mention).

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