South Carolina women's basketball defeats Oklahoma in Sweet 16 rematch

Gamecocks advance to Elite Eight after avenging earlier loss to Sooners

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:04am

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The top-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team defeated the No. 4 seed Oklahoma Sooners 88-78 in their Sweet 16 matchup, avenging an earlier overtime loss to the Sooners during the regular season. The Gamecocks, led by head coach Dawn Staley, used their size and depth to pull away in the fourth quarter after a close game throughout.

Why it matters

This victory keeps South Carolina's hopes alive for a return trip to the Final Four, where they won the national championship in 2022. The Gamecocks' loss to Oklahoma earlier in the season was their only SEC defeat, so this win helps them regain momentum heading into the Elite Eight.

The details

South Carolina was led by junior guard Zia Cooke, who scored a game-high 25 points. The Gamecocks outrebounded Oklahoma 42-32 and scored 44 points in the paint to overcome a strong shooting performance by Sooners guard Aaliyah Chavez, who had 22 points. South Carolina's defense also forced 16 Oklahoma turnovers.

  • The game was played on March 28, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET in the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
  • This was a rematch of a regular season game on January 22, 2026, which Oklahoma won 94-82 in overtime.

The players

Dawn Staley

Head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, leading them to 12 straight Sweet 16 appearances and 5 consecutive Elite Eight berths.

Zia Cooke

Junior guard for the South Carolina Gamecocks, scoring a game-high 25 points in the Sweet 16 win over Oklahoma.

Aaliyah Chavez

Guard for the Oklahoma Sooners, scoring a team-high 22 points in the loss to South Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“We knew this was going to be a tough game, but our team was ready to avenge that earlier loss. I'm proud of how we battled and used our size and depth to wear them down in the end.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks

“We gave it our all, but South Carolina's size and rebounding were just too much for us to overcome in the end. I'm proud of how our team competed, but we came up short against the defending champs.”

— Sherri Coale, Head Coach, Oklahoma Sooners

What’s next

South Carolina will play the winner of No. 10 seed Virginia and No. 3 seed TCU in the Elite Eight on March 30 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The takeaway

South Carolina's victory over Oklahoma in the Sweet 16 rematch showcases the Gamecocks' ability to bounce back from an earlier loss and use their size, depth, and defensive pressure to advance to the Elite Eight. This win keeps Dawn Staley's squad on track for a potential return to the Final Four as they continue their quest for a second national championship.