South Carolina Women's Basketball Advances to Second Round

Gamecocks to face No. 9 seed Southern Cal after dominant first-round win

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:13pm

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The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team easily defeated No. 16 seed Southern 103-34 in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. They will now face No. 9 seed Southern Cal in the second round.

Why it matters

South Carolina is one of the top women's basketball programs in the country and is looking to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Their dominant first-round win sets them up for a matchup with Southern Cal, which could be a tough challenge as the Gamecocks pursue a national championship.

The details

The Gamecocks, led by star players and future WNBA draft picks, cruised to a 69-point victory over Southern in the opening round. They shot an impressive 57% from the field and forced 22 turnovers. Now they will face a Southern Cal team that pulled off an upset in the first round.

  • The first-round game was played on March 21, 2026.
  • The second-round matchup between South Carolina and Southern Cal will take place on March 23, 2026.

The players

South Carolina Gamecocks

The top-seeded women's basketball team from the University of South Carolina, one of the premier programs in the country.

Southern Cal

The No. 9 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, who pulled off an upset in the first round to advance to the second round against South Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“We came out focused and executed our game plan to perfection. Now we turn our attention to a tough Southern Cal team that will present a new challenge for us.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

What’s next

The winner of the South Carolina-Southern Cal second-round matchup will advance to the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

South Carolina's dominant first-round win sets them up for a potential deep tournament run, as they continue their quest for a national championship in women's basketball.