South Carolina Women's Basketball Awaits NCAA Tournament Seeding

Gamecocks projected as No. 4 overall seed, likely to face High Point or Jacksonville in first round

Mar. 15, 2026 at 9:04am

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The South Carolina women's basketball team is preparing for the 2026 NCAA Tournament after a 31-3 regular season. The Gamecocks are projected as a No. 4 overall seed and the top seed in the Sacramento Regional, likely facing either High Point or Jacksonville in the first round. South Carolina had been the No. 3 overall seed in most bracketology projections until falling to Texas in the SEC Tournament championship game.

Why it matters

South Carolina is a perennial powerhouse in women's college basketball, having won three national championships under head coach Dawn Staley. The Gamecocks' seeding and potential matchups in the NCAA Tournament will be closely watched as they aim to make another deep run and compete for their fourth title.

The details

In most major bracketology projections, South Carolina has been slotted as a No. 4 overall seed and the top seed in the Sacramento Regional. The Gamecocks had been the No. 3 overall seed in all of ESPN's updates until their loss to Texas in the SEC Tournament championship, which allowed the Longhorns to jump them. South Carolina's résumé includes a 12-3 record in Quad 1 games and a No. 3 overall NET ranking.

  • The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15, 2026.
  • South Carolina lost to Texas in the SEC Tournament championship on March 10, 2026.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, who has led the Gamecocks to three national championships in her 18 seasons with the program.

Texas Longhorns

The women's basketball team from the University of Texas, which defeated South Carolina in the SEC Tournament championship game.

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What they’re saying

“With a win, Texas would also take the season series from South Carolina and earn placement in the Fort Worth region.”

— Charlie Creme, ESPN bracketologist

What’s next

The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket will be officially revealed during the selection show on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET on March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

South Carolina's women's basketball team is poised for another deep run in the NCAA Tournament, but their seeding and potential matchups remain uncertain until the bracket is officially announced. The Gamecocks' loss to Texas in the SEC Tournament championship has shaken up the bracketology projections, setting up an intriguing path to the Final Four in Phoenix.