South Carolina women's basketball one win away from sixth straight Final Four

No. 1 Gamecocks face No. 3 TCU in Elite Eight matchup on Monday night

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:41pm

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The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team is one win away from reaching its sixth consecutive Final Four as they take on the No. 3 seed TCU Horned Frogs in the Elite Eight on Monday night in Sacramento, California. The Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley, have relied on a mix of veteran and new players this season to maintain their status as one of the top programs in the country.

Why it matters

South Carolina's quest for a sixth straight Final Four appearance highlights the program's sustained excellence under Staley's leadership. The Gamecocks' ability to seamlessly integrate new players into their rotation while maintaining their high level of play is a testament to the program's culture and development of talent.

The details

The Gamecocks will face a tough challenge in TCU, led by the dynamic duo of guard Olivia Miles and forward Marta Suarez. Miles and Suarez combined to score and assist on all 79 of TCU's points in their Sweet 16 win over Virginia. To upset the Gamecocks, TCU coach Mark Campbell says 'we need everybody' to play their best game of the season.

  • South Carolina is making its sixth straight Elite Eight appearance.
  • With a win, the Gamecocks would reach their sixth straight Final Four.
  • TCU has made back-to-back Elite Eights for the first time in program history.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who has led the program to five consecutive Final Four appearances.

Olivia Miles

The TCU guard and Notre Dame transfer, who is the NCAA's active leader in career triple-doubles with 12 and one of only three players in Division I history to record at least 2,000 points, 800 rebounds and 800 assists in a career.

Marta Suarez

The TCU forward from Spain, who scored a team-high 33 points and had 10 rebounds in the Horned Frogs' Sweet 16 win over Virginia.

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What they’re saying

“In order to beat South Carolina, we've got to play the best game we've played this season. We're capable of doing it.”

— Mark Campbell, TCU Head Coach

“They all could have just tried to do things the way they survive at doing things. And it takes a little bit of courage to let your guard down to be led so you can fulfill your role to the best of your ability.”

— Dawn Staley, South Carolina Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of the South Carolina-TCU game will play No. 1 UConn in a Final Four game on Friday in Phoenix.

The takeaway

South Carolina's continued success in the NCAA Tournament, despite incorporating several new players into the rotation, demonstrates the program's ability to maintain its high standards and develop talent. The Gamecocks' matchup with TCU's dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez promises to be an exciting Elite Eight clash as both teams vie for a spot in the Final Four.