Gamecocks and Frogs Battle for Final Four Berth

Dawn Staley's South Carolina squad faces TCU's upstart roster in the Elite Eight showdown.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:04am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Dawn Staley's South Carolina Gamecocks, a perennial Final Four contender, will face off against the upstart TCU Horned Frogs, making their second consecutive Elite Eight appearance, in the Sacramento Regional Final on Monday night. The winner will advance to the women's national semifinals in Phoenix to take on undefeated UConn.

Why it matters

South Carolina has been a dominant force in women's basketball, reaching the Final Four in six of the past eight seasons and winning three national championships. TCU, on the other hand, has rapidly rebuilt its program through the transfer portal and is looking to make its first-ever Final Four appearance.

The details

The Gamecocks, led by legendary coach Dawn Staley, boast a wealth of tournament experience and have been blowing out opponents in the NCAA Tournament, winning by an average of 45 points per game. TCU, coached by Mark Campbell, has a relatively new roster but is led by the dynamic duo of Olivia Miles and Marta Suarez, who combined to score or assist on all 79 of the team's points in the Sweet 16 win over Virginia.

  • The Elite Eight matchup will take place on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The winner will advance to the women's national semifinals in Phoenix on Friday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, who has led the team to six Final Four appearances in the past eight seasons and three national championships.

Olivia Miles

The senior All-America guard for the TCU Horned Frogs, who has been dominant in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 19.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists per game.

Marta Suarez

The co-star of the TCU Horned Frogs, who has combined with Olivia Miles to score or assist on all 79 of the team's points in the Sweet 16 win over Virginia.

Mark Campbell

The head coach of the TCU Horned Frogs, who has rapidly rebuilt the program through the transfer portal, bringing in 18 portal players over the past three seasons.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We need everybody. 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, Head Coach, TCU Horned Frogs

“They play at a slower pace and control the tempo. Somehow we need to speed that up whether it's through pressure or other way to doing things. We're up for the challenge.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

The winner of the Elite Eight matchup between South Carolina and TCU will advance to the women's national semifinals in Phoenix on Friday, April 4, 2026, where they will face undefeated UConn.

The takeaway

This Elite Eight showdown pits the experience and dominance of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the upstart, transfer-fueled TCU Horned Frogs. The outcome will determine which program reaches the Final Four and has a chance to compete for the national championship.