USC Women's Hoops Aim to Clinch SEC Title at Alabama

The Gamecocks need two wins in their final four games to clinch another SEC regular season championship.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 12:47pm

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The No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team is traveling to Tuscaloosa to take on the No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide on Thursday night. The Gamecocks need two wins in their final four games to clinch at least a share of the SEC regular season title, which would be their fifth straight conference championship. South Carolina dominated Alabama 83-57 in their SEC opener on New Year's Day, but the Gamecocks have historically struggled to pull away from the Crimson Tide on the road. Head coach Dawn Staley will have to contend with the potential absences of players Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac, who are dealing with lower leg injuries.

Why it matters

South Carolina is the dominant force in SEC women's basketball, having won four straight regular season titles. Clinching another championship would further cement their status as the class of the conference and keep them on track for a high NCAA Tournament seed. However, Alabama has proven to be a tough matchup for the Gamecocks in the past, so this road game represents a potential hurdle in South Carolina's quest for another title.

The details

The Gamecocks are currently 11-1 in SEC play and hold a commanding lead atop the conference standings. They are coming off a big 79-72 road win over LSU in their last outing. Alabama has lost its last two games but is still ranked No. 25 nationally. South Carolina has won 24 straight games against the Crimson Tide and holds a 34-15 advantage in the all-time series, but Staley has acknowledged that the Gamecocks have historically struggled to pull away from Alabama, especially on the road. The Gamecocks will be getting Maddy McDaniel back after a two-game absence, but the status of Adhel Tac, who missed the LSU game, is still uncertain.

  • South Carolina and Alabama played each other in their SEC opener on January 1.
  • The Gamecocks and Crimson Tide are set to play each other in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who has led the program to four straight SEC regular season championships.

Maddy McDaniel

A South Carolina player who is returning from a two-game absence due to a lower leg injury.

Adhel Tac

A South Carolina player whose status for Thursday's game is uncertain due to a lower leg injury.

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What they’re saying

“We got Alabama on the road, who plays extremely well at home, and always has, and we always have issues there.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach

“Just have to remind them what's at stake. You've done a pretty good job with winning 11 games in our league thus far... just got to finish it. There's nothing more gratifying than winning, your hard work produces championships.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game represents a potential hurdle for the dominant South Carolina Gamecocks as they look to clinch another SEC regular season title. While the Gamecocks have dominated the series against Alabama historically, they have struggled to pull away from the Crimson Tide on the road, and the potential absences of key players like Maddy McDaniel and Adhel Tac could complicate matters for South Carolina.