South Carolina Women’s Basketball Heads to Charleston for September Exhibition Against College of Charleston

Deprecated: Function curl_close() is deprecated since 8.5, as it has no effect since PHP 8.0 in /home/u617314921/domains/eplinfo.net/public_html/wp-content/themes/elitepressline/functions.php on line 126

South Carolina women’s basketball will take its show on the road before the 2026-27 season officially begins, with Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks set to face College of Charleston in a September exhibition at Credit One Stadium.

The matchup is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27, as part of TheLinkU Invitational in Charleston, South Carolina.

Unlike a typical preseason exhibition, the event is being built as an entire basketball weekend, with fan activities, hospitality experiences and three college basketball games surrounding South Carolina’s appearance.

South Carolina’s Charleston Exhibition Has a 5 p.m. Tipoff

The Gamecocks will close the Sunday tripleheader with a 5 p.m. matchup against College of Charleston.

The earlier games feature Virginia against Vanderbilt at noon, followed by College of Charleston men’s basketball facing The Citadel.

The South Carolina-College of Charleston matchup will be played at Credit One Stadium, giving the Gamecocks an unusual setting for a basketball game.

The venue is better known for hosting football and other large-scale events, making the exhibition part of Credit One Stadium’s inaugural college basketball weekend.

For South Carolina, the game provides an opportunity to compete in front of fans outside Columbia while also giving the program another preseason evaluation opportunity.

Dawn Staley Embraces the Charleston Connection

Staley said the event appealed to South Carolina because of its commitment to growing women’s basketball and because the program has an established fan connection in Charleston.

The Gamecocks have a large following across South Carolina, and Staley specifically pointed to fans from the Charleston area who regularly make the trip to Columbia during the season.

The September exhibition gives those supporters a chance to see the team closer to home.

It also fits with South Carolina’s broader effort to build visibility around women’s basketball beyond its regular-season schedule.

What the Exhibition Could Tell Us About the New-Look Gamecocks

The result of an exhibition is secondary to what Staley learns about her team.

South Carolina enters 2026-27 with several important roster changes, including new players who will need to settle into the Gamecocks’ system.

A preseason game against College of Charleston can give Staley valuable live-game information about lineup combinations, defensive communication and offensive spacing before the regular season arrives.

The exhibition should also provide an early opportunity to see how South Carolina handles extended minutes for younger players and newcomers.

That matters for a roster that has undergone significant turnover in its backcourt.

Staley does not need to reveal her preferred rotation in September, but the game can help establish which combinations deserve more experimentation during the remaining preseason period.

TheLinkU Invitational Is More Than One Game

The South Carolina-College of Charleston exhibition is part of a larger weekend organized by Beemok Sports & Entertainment and TheLinkU.

The schedule begins Friday evening with a Chalk Talk featuring coaches and players connected to the event.

Fans will then have an opportunity to watch South Carolina practice in Charleston on Saturday.

A Gamecocks football watch party is also planned at Uptown Social for South Carolina’s matchup with Alabama.

Sunday will then feature the three basketball games at Credit One Stadium.

That format makes the event less like a standalone exhibition and more like a destination weekend centered on college sports.

For South Carolina fans traveling from outside Charleston, that could make the September trip considerably more appealing than attending a traditional preseason game.

Credit One Stadium Creates an Unusual Basketball Setting

Moving college basketball into an outdoor stadium creates a different environment from what players normally experience inside an arena.

The event organizers are pairing the games with food and beverage options, family entertainment and other pregame programming.

For South Carolina, the novelty could also provide an early test of how the team handles an unfamiliar game environment.

The basketball itself remains the priority, but the setting gives the exhibition a level of visibility that most preseason games do not receive.

The game is also an opportunity for Charleston to showcase its appetite for women’s college basketball while South Carolina continues to operate as one of the sport’s most prominent programs.

Tickets and VIP Packages Are Already Available

South Carolina supporters can purchase tickets and VIP packages through the event organizers.

Fans purchasing tickets can use the code SCWBB.

Those interested in VIP packages should select South Carolina Women’s Basketball during the purchasing process.

The Gamecocks’ bench will be located closest to Section 103.

With the September 27 exhibition now established, the Charleston trip gives South Carolina another piece of its preseason calendar to build toward.

More importantly, it gives Staley a live-game environment in which to evaluate a changing roster before the games start counting.

The bigger value of the Charleston matchup will not necessarily be the final score, but what South Carolina discovers about its new group before the regular season.

For fans searching for the South Carolina women’s basketball Charleston exhibition, September 27 is the date to circle.

FAQs

When is South Carolina women’s basketball playing College of Charleston?

South Carolina will face College of Charleston on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in an exhibition matchup.

Where will South Carolina play College of Charleston?

The game will be played at Credit One Stadium in Charleston, South Carolina.

What time does the South Carolina vs. College of Charleston exhibition start?

The South Carolina women’s basketball game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m.

What is TheLinkU Invitational?

TheLinkU Invitational is a college basketball weekend featuring South Carolina and College of Charleston in women’s basketball, along with Virginia, Vanderbilt and The Citadel in men’s basketball.

How can South Carolina fans get tickets?

Fans can purchase tickets through the tournament organizers and use the code SCWBB for ticket purchases.