Clemson and USC to Face Off at South Carolina's Home Arena

Unusual NCAA Tournament matchup brings Palmetto State rivalry to Colonial Life Arena

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:24am

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The first two rounds of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at the top 16 seeds' home arenas, leading to some unusual matchups. One of the strangest is Clemson, the 8-seed, facing off against 9-seed USC at the University of South Carolina's Colonial Life Arena. Clemson and USC are both traveling to Columbia, with Clemson making a short 130-mile trip and USC coming all the way from Los Angeles on a 2,400-mile flight.

Why it matters

The decision to host the early rounds at the top seeds' home courts has led to some unique tournament pairings, including this Palmetto State rivalry game between Clemson and USC at South Carolina's home arena. The Gamecocks' fan base is expected to have a strong presence, creating an interesting dynamic as they potentially cheer for or against their in-state rival Clemson.

The details

Clemson, the 8-seed, and USC, the 9-seed, both knew they would have to travel for the tournament, but ended up with very different trips. Clemson, located just 130 miles from Columbia, was surprised to learn they would be playing so close to home, while USC made the 2,400-mile trek from Los Angeles. USC is experienced with long flights, as their closest Big Ten opponent is a 2.5-hour flight away. Clemson has nearly sold out their ticket allotment, confident their fans will make the short drive to support the Tigers.

  • The first two rounds of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at the top 16 seeds' home arenas.
  • Clemson and USC will face off on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Shawn Poppie

Clemson's head coach, making his third NCAA Tournament appearance.

Mia Moore

A senior on the Clemson women's basketball team.

Kara Dunn

A player on the USC women's basketball team.

Lindsay Gottlieb

The head coach of the USC women's basketball team.

Demeara Hinds

A player on the Clemson women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We definitely thought we were going to be able to travel a little bit.”

— Mia Moore, Senior, Clemson Women's Basketball

“Obviously, we are traveling further than the other teams, but I don't think that really matters to us. We're excited for this opportunity and to show that we've been working on the past couple of weeks.”

— Kara Dunn, USC Women's Basketball Player

“There was one called March Mathness, so I don't know that any other coaches were doing this, but they asked me to prepare a presentation for third through fifth graders on the analytics, how math and basketball are interrelated. So that was a good break for me from Clemson specific, to talk to third to fifth graders.”

— Lindsay Gottlieb, Head Coach, USC Women's Basketball

What’s next

The winner of the Clemson-USC game will advance to face the top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks on Monday, March 24, 2026.

The takeaway

This unusual NCAA Tournament matchup between in-state rivals Clemson and USC at South Carolina's home arena highlights the unique challenges and opportunities presented by hosting the early rounds at the top seeds' home courts. The Palmetto State rivalry and the Gamecocks' passionate fan base are sure to create an electric atmosphere in Columbia.