When SEC play begins Thursday, South Carolina Began a quest to do something accomplished only once before in SEC women’s basketball: go undefeated in the league for a third straight season.
Gamecox — ranked No. 2 in this week’s ESPN Women’s College Basketball Power Rankings — went 16-0 in the SEC over the past two years. All 16 teams are in action Thursday: Conference play begins at South Carolina. Missouri (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network), and league newcomers Texas And Oklahoma Square Off (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2).
No SEC team has beaten South Carolina in overtime since Missouri on December 30, 2021 in the regular season. The Gamecocks also lost in the SEC Tournament final that season. Kentuckybut went on to win the 2022 national championship.
Then in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, the Gamecocks lost just one game overall: to Iowa in the 2023 national semifinals, going 74-1 in that stretch. So far in 2024-25, South Carolina is 12-1, with the only loss coming on Nov. 24 at UCLA.
Gamecocks are balanced and deep, with seven players averaging between 11.4 and 7.0. Te Hina Pauof 11.4 ppg. Come on, Kits is the top rebounder (7.7 rpg), and Ashlyn Watkins Is one of the main anchors of the defense, averaging 2.0 blocks.
It’s part of an important story in women’s college hoops: As good a league as the SEC has traditionally been, South Carolina dominated the conference for more than a decade under coach Dawn Staley. Dating back to the 2013-14 season, the Gamecocks are 161-15 in SEC regular-season play. They have won or tied for the league regular season title eight times and eight SEC tournament titles.
South Carolina has four of the 21 best SEC seasons since the league began sponsoring women’s basketball in 1982-83. Nine have passed. Tennesseethe only school with three consecutive undefeated seasons (1993–95, when the league’s schedule consisted of 11 games). However, none of Tennessee’s eight national championships have come in that stretch.
Four of perfect SEC seasons — two by Georgia And by two Auburn –were from 1986-91, when the league’s schedule consisted of nine games. Over the years, the SEC schedule grew to 11, then 12, then 14. It has happened in 16 games since 2010. The only schools to go undefeated in league play since then are South Carolina, which has done so four times, and Mississippi State and Tennessee, one each.
Now we’ll see if South Carolina can do it again in a conference that is likely to have 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s Charlie Karim. The Gamecocks have had such consistent success in a league that provides so many challenges that it’s one of the most impressive things we’ve seen in college sports in the last 10 years.
Previous Rating: 1
The Bruins have Big Ten wins over Nebraska and Michigan at home this past week as the center. Lauren Bates Returned after sitting out two games with a lower leg injury. He totaled 34 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists in two games. Next, the Bruins take their first Big Ten Midwestern road trip, visiting legendary UCLA men’s basketball coach John Wooden’s home state of Indiana.
Next seven days: @ Indiana (Jan. 4), @ Purdue (Jan. 7)
Previous Rating: 2
South Carolina’s final pre-SEC tune-up was a 93-47 rout of Wofford on Sunday in which Cox scored in all 10 games played. Freshman forward Joyce Edwards Led South Carolina in scoring over last three games.
Next seven days: @Missouri (Jan. 2), @Mississippi State (Jan. 5)
Previous Rating: 3
Nellie Ivey earned his 100th victory as Notre Dame’s head coach. Olivia Miles The Irish had the sixth career triple-double in Sunday’s 95-54 win over Virginia. Miles had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. The strength of the Irish Guard continues to grow. Hannah Hidalgo (28 points) and Sonia Citron (25 points, 11 rebounds) adding Miles as a standout.
Next seven days: @ North Carolina (January 5)
1:44
Hannah Hidalgo Top Points vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Hannah Hidalgo Top Points vs. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous Rating: 4
Jojo Watkins Had a combined 57 points and 11 assists in the Trojans’ victories over Michigan and Nebraska this past week. USC held the Wolverines to 33.3% shooting from the field and the Huskers to 34.5%. Next up is the Trojans’ first Eastern Time Zone Big Ten trip.
Next seven days: @ Rutgers (Jan. 5), @ Maryland (Jan. 8)
1:39
JuJu scored 31 runs as USC defeated No. 23 Michigan
JuJu Watkins makes easy work of No. 4 USC No. 23 Michigan with a game-high 31 points.
Previous Rating: 5
Since a close call against West Virginia in early December and an overtime loss to Notre Dame, the Longhorns haven’t been tested. That changes this month, with Texas facing ranked foes in six of its nine games in January. Kayla Oldakera 6-foot-6 transfer from Miami, could be a big factor for Texas in SEC play. He tied his season high with 21 points in Sunday’s 94-35 victory over UT Rio Grande Valley.
Next seven days: @ Oklahoma (Jan. 2), vs. Arkansas (Jan. 5)
1:57
Highlight: No. 5 Texas beats UTRGV, extends winning streak to six
Kyla Oldacre scored 21 points in 24 minutes of playing time while Madison Booker dished out a season-high seven assists to lead the Longhorns to a 94-35 win over the Vaqueros.
Previous Rating:6
The Huskies are coming off wins over Providence and Marquette and are 3-0 in the Big East, where they could very well run the table. Freshman Sarah is strong He has scored in double figures in all 14 of his college games.
Next seven days: @ Villanova (Jan. 5), vs. Xavier (Jan. 8)
Previous Rating: 8
The Terps were riding their only win over a long-ranked team (vs. Duke in November). But they added to that with a 72-66 victory over ranked Michigan State on Sunday. Maryland will play Rutgers in addition to two more ranked foes next week. Maryland’s top scorer, Kelly smiled (17.8 ppg), transferred from Rutgers this season.
Next seven days: vs. Rutgers (Jan. 2), @ Iowa (Jan. 5), vs. USC (Jan. 8)
Previous Rating: 7
The Tigers are undefeated. But the concern is how often they have not played well for most of the game and they need a big win to win. It happened again Sunday against Albany, when LSU led by three points after three quarters. The Tigers outscored the Great Danes 27-8 in the fourth quarter. LSU needs to step up in SEC play. Senior Anisa Moro Playing well, averaging 18.4 points, 14.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals.
Next seven days: @Arkansas (Jan. 2), vs. Auburn (Jan. 5)
0:33
Highlight: LSU defeated Albany, finishing non-conference play undefeated.
Anissa Morrow posted 20 points and 18 rebounds to help the No. 6 Tigers beat the Great Danes 83-61 for her 13th double-double of the season.
Previous Rating: 9
The Sooners have two wins over ranked teams in non-conference play. They now open their first season in the SEC with two ranked opponents in Texas and Tennessee. Reagan Bears He had his sixth double-double in Oklahoma’s 82-64 victory over New Mexico State on Sunday. She is shooting 69.3 percent from the field, third in Division I.
Next seven days: vs. Texas (Jan. 2), @ Tennessee (Jan. 5)
4:02
Williams, Baranczyk improve at OU ahead of conference slate.
After a tough win at home against the Aztecs, Sahara Williams and Jennie Baranczyk give their insights on what the Sooners must improve on with SEC play ahead.
Previous Rating: 10
Jr Coty McMahon Had his first double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Buckeyes beat Rutgers 77-63 on Sunday. Ohio State is one of three Big Ten teams, along with UCLA and Maryland, that is undefeated.
Next seven days: vs. Northwestern (Jan. 5), @ Michigan (Jan. 8)
Previous Rating: 11
TCU closed out non-conference play with a 79-47 win over Brown on Sunday, then beat Colorado 63-50 on Wednesday to move to 2-0 in the Big 12. Against the Buffaloes, center Sedona Prince Had his sixth double-double of the season (14 points, 10 rebounds) as well as a season-high 4 steals.
Next seven days: vs. Cincinnati (Jan. 4), @ Kansas (Jan. 7)
Previous Rating: 12
The Blue Devils have plenty of time to sit with their third loss of the season, 65-56 at South Florida on Dec. 21. They will be looking for a good start in their first two games before the first big match of the new year. Rivalry game, Jan. 9 at North Carolina.
Next seven days: @ Boston College (Jan. 2), vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 5)
Previous Rating: 13
The Wildcats suffered a three-quarter scare Wednesday at Houston, which is the Big 12’s cellar dweller. Then, tied 51-51, Kansas State outscored Houston 23-4 in the fourth quarter. Avoca Lee Was one of three Wildcats with 15 points, and Serena Sandel Nearly had a triple-double (11 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists). K-State does not currently face ranked teams in January.
Next seven days: vs. Texas Tech (Jan. 4), @ Utah (Jan. 8)
Previous Rating: 14
Georgia Tech hammered Pittsburgh 100-61 on Sunday, marking the century mark in points in a game for the first time since 2015. Jr Kara Dunn Fellow guard while leading the way with 28 points and seven rebounds. Danny Carnegie Had 24 points, the most ever in his exciting freshman season.
Next seven days: vs. Syracuse (Jan. 2)
Previous Rating: 15
The Lady Vols defeated Winthrop 114-50 on Sunday, their sixth game this season to reach 100 points or more. Tennessee leads Division I in scoring (98.8 ppg), one of five SEC teams in the top 10 in that category (joining LSU, Texas, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt). We’ll see if that level of scoring holds up when cupcakes are off the menu and conference play begins.
Next seven days: @ Texas A&M (Jan. 2), vs. Oklahoma (Jan. 5)
Previous Rating: 16
The Wildcats wrapped up nonconference play with an 88-70 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday, with sophomore center Clara Streak It was his sixth double-double of the season. With their lone loss at North Carolina, the Wildcats hope they are ready to make some noise in SEC play.
Next seven days: vs. Mississippi State (Jan. 2), vs. Vanderbilt (Jan. 5)
fell: None.