South Carolina Joins Top Seeds in Final Four

Gamecocks defeat TCU to advance to NCAA tournament's semifinals.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:19am

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The South Carolina Gamecocks have punched their ticket to the Final Four of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, joining fellow No. 1 seeds UConn, UCLA, and Texas. The Gamecocks defeated TCU by a comfortable margin in the Elite Eight matchup played at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.

Why it matters

South Carolina's appearance in the Final Four continues the dominance of top seeds in this year's tournament. With all four No. 1 seeds advancing, it sets up a highly anticipated national semifinal round featuring some of the best teams and players in women's college basketball.

The details

The Gamecocks pulled away from TCU in the second half, leading by as many as 20 points late in the fourth quarter. South Carolina's stifling defense and balanced scoring attack proved too much for the Horned Frogs to overcome.

  • The game was played on March 30, 2026 in Sacramento, California.
  • South Carolina led by 20 points with 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The players

South Carolina Gamecocks

The women's basketball team from the University of South Carolina, a No. 1 seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament.

TCU Horned Frogs

The women's basketball team from Texas Christian University, who were defeated by South Carolina in the Elite Eight round.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bring our best effort to get to the Final Four, and I'm proud of how our team responded tonight.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

The Gamecocks will face the winner of the UCLA-Texas matchup in the national semifinal on April 4th.

The takeaway

With all four No. 1 seeds advancing to the Final Four, this year's NCAA women's basketball tournament is shaping up to feature an elite field of championship contenders.