No. 4 Texas beats No. 3 South Carolina for first SEC women's title

Longhorns sprint to early lead, cruise to 78-61 victory in Greenville

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The fourth-ranked Texas Longhorns defeated the third-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 78-61 on Sunday to win their first Southeastern Conference women's basketball tournament championship. Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, shooting 57% from the field to avenge last year's loss to South Carolina in the title game.

Why it matters

The win marks a significant milestone for the Longhorns, who joined the SEC in 2024 and have now proven they can compete with the conference's traditional powerhouses. South Carolina, the three-time defending champion, was heavily favored playing just 90 minutes from campus, but Texas' fast start and stifling defense proved too much to overcome.

The details

Madison Booker scored 18 points and was named tournament MVP for Texas, which shot a blistering 57% from the field. Justice Carlton added 15 points and Jordan Lee had 12 for the Longhorns. South Carolina, led by 13 points from Joyce Edwards, never recovered from Texas' 14-0 run to open the game and trailed by as many as 17 points at halftime.

  • Texas jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening minutes of the game.
  • South Carolina trailed by 17 points at halftime, the largest deficit the Gamecocks have faced in an SEC Tournament game under coach Dawn Staley.

The players

Vic Schaefer

The veteran head coach of the Texas Longhorns women's basketball team.

Madison Booker

The tournament MVP, who scored 18 points for Texas.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team.

Joyce Edwards

The leading scorer for South Carolina with 13 points.

Rori Harmon

A Texas guard who said "Losing is not an option" before the game.

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What they’re saying

“We belong in the SEC. We're here to play and we're here to win.”

— Madison Booker

“When her shot is going in like that, they are very difficult to beat.”

— Dawn Staley, South Carolina head coach

“Losing is not an option. Don't step on the court if you're not ready to win.”

— Rori Harmon, Texas guard

What’s next

Both Texas and South Carolina are expected to be No. 1 seeds in the upcoming women's NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Texas' dominant victory over the three-time defending SEC champions shows the Longhorns are a force to be reckoned with in their new conference, and they will be a top contender for the national title after proving they can win on a big stage against an elite opponent.