South Carolina had another victory over Clemson in the bag, but the biggest talking point after the final buzzer had little to do with the scoreboard. Dawn Staley and Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts found themselves on opposite sides of a question about the rivalry between the two programs, delivering two distinctly different answers during their postgame media appearances.
The No. 1-ranked Gamecocks defeated Clemson 65-44, extending their winning streak against the Tigers to 16 consecutive games. Yet when a reporter asked whether the matchup carried the weight of a genuine rivalry, Kitts and her head coach clearly saw things differently.
Chloe Kitts Gives a Blunt Answer Before Dawn Staley Steps In
The moment came during Kitts’ postgame media session. Asked directly whether she considered the Clemson matchup a rivalry, the South Carolina forward did not hesitate.
“Um… no, sir,” Kitts responded.
It was a brief answer, but it left little room for interpretation. From her perspective, Clemson had not done enough recently to make the basketball matchup feel like a competitive rivalry.
Staley, however, offered a different perspective when she faced the same question moments later.
“It’s a rivalry,” the South Carolina coach declared.
The contrast was striking. Kitts appeared to view the prolonged dominance as a reason to dismiss the rivalry label, while Staley seemed more interested in acknowledging the significance of the matchup between two neighboring programs.
The postgame exchange quickly became one of the night’s most interesting talking points.
South Carolina’s Defense Takes Control After a Difficult First Half
While the disagreement attracted attention, South Carolina’s performance on the court demonstrated why the Gamecocks remain such a difficult opponent.
The opening half was far from comfortable.
Clemson entered the contest with confidence and gave the top-ranked team a genuine challenge during the early stages. The Tigers applied pressure defensively, disrupted South Carolina’s offensive rhythm and prevented the Gamecocks from establishing their usual dominance.
South Carolina went into halftime with a 30-21 advantage, but the nine-point difference offered little indication of how emphatically the visitors would eventually take control.
The Gamecocks struggled with their shooting consistency, remaining below 40% from the field for much of the first half.
Texas transfer Jordan Lee provided some early efficiency, converting three of her four attempts. However, the remaining starters struggled to find their rhythm, combining for just three makes on 13 attempts during that stretch.
Tessa Johnson also endured a frustrating spell after opening the contest with a three-pointer, missing six consecutive shots.
Clemson had an opportunity to make the game considerably more uncomfortable for Staley’s team. Instead, the third quarter became the turning point.
Third-Quarter Explosion Changes Everything
South Carolina returned from the locker room with a different level of intensity.
The defensive pressure increased, passing lanes became harder to navigate, and Clemson suddenly struggled to find any reliable offensive answers.
The Gamecocks outscored the Tigers 21-7 in the third quarter, holding Clemson without a single made field goal. The Tigers finished the period 0-for-7 from the floor, with all seven of their points coming from the free-throw line.
Johnson finally found her scoring touch, contributing nine points in the quarter.
Kitts also made her presence felt, combining with Johnson for 13 points during the first six minutes of the period.
That stretch transformed a manageable nine-point advantage into a commanding 44-22 lead.
By the time the third quarter ended, South Carolina had established a 51-28 cushion. Clemson had little chance of recovering from that defensive collapse.
Chloe Kitts Delivers Another Double-Double
Despite the postgame disagreement with her coach, Kitts delivered another impressive performance.
The forward finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, recording her second consecutive double-double and the 19th of her collegiate career.
Her contribution was particularly important because South Carolina needed players to step up during an uneven offensive performance.
Johnson finished as the Gamecocks’ leading scorer with 13 points, while Alicia Tournebize provided a welcome boost after returning from injury.
Tournebize recorded eight points on an efficient four-of-five shooting performance. She also collected three rebounds and blocked three shots in just 13 minutes.
Joyce Edwards struggled to find her shooting rhythm, but she remained productive in other areas, recording four assists and three steals.
Staley was particularly pleased with the defensive commitment and growing contributions from her reserves.
“I’m happy this team is finding an identity, and that identity starts with our defense,” the coach said.
She also acknowledged the progress made by the bench, adding, “I thought our depth grew tonight.”
Those comments offered an important indication of what Staley wants from her squad as the season develops.
Clemson’s Losing Streak Against South Carolina Continues
The final statistics illustrated the difference between the two programs on Thursday night.
| Statistical category | South Carolina | Clemson |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 65 | 44 |
| Field-goal percentage | 43.4% | 22.4% |
| Three-point percentage | — | 12.5% |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 10 |
Clemson committed 21 turnovers, a season high, giving South Carolina additional opportunities to extend its advantage.
The victory also extended the Gamecocks’ winning streak against the Tigers to 16 games. Clemson’s last victory over South Carolina came on November 19, 2009, when the Tigers prevailed 94-92 in a dramatic double-overtime contest.
That history helps explain why Kitts might not consider the basketball matchup particularly competitive.
However, the rivalry has significance beyond the women’s basketball court.
Both universities compete in the annual Palmetto Series, which awards points based on results across multiple sports. Their football rivalry also carries considerable historical importance throughout South Carolina.
Clemson has shown signs of progress under head coach Shawn Poppie, including its return to the NCAA Tournament last season. The Tigers also entered Thursday’s contest believing they could challenge the nation’s top-ranked team.
Poppie had previously expressed confidence in his locker room’s ability to compete with South Carolina.
Nevertheless, the latest result reinforced the considerable distance Clemson still needs to cover to consistently challenge Staley’s program.
USC Challenge Awaits the Gamecocks
South Carolina cannot afford to spend too much time discussing the Clemson rivalry debate.
The Gamecocks are preparing for a much tougher examination against No. 3 Southern California on Sunday, November 15, in Greenville.
The matchup will feature another major storyline, with USC star JuJu Watkins averaging 24.3 points per game entering the contest.
Staley’s team will be looking to carry its defensive momentum into the showdown after opening the season with three consecutive victories.
South Carolina previously defeated USC 69-52 last season in Los Angeles, giving the Gamecocks another opportunity to establish their superiority in the series.
For Kitts, the immediate priority will be maintaining her impressive form and helping South Carolina navigate a demanding schedule. Her double-double against Clemson demonstrated the value she brings to the team, particularly when the offense encounters difficulties.
Staley, meanwhile, will want to see the same defensive intensity and improved bench production against a considerably more dangerous opponent.
Their disagreement over Clemson might have provided an entertaining postgame moment, but it does not suggest any deeper division between coach and player.
Ultimately, both share the same objective: keeping South Carolina at the top of women’s college basketball.
And although Chloe Kitts and Dawn Staley may have different opinions about the Clemson matchup, their shared determination to win makes the Dawn Staley Chloe Kitts Clemson rivalry disagreement after South Carolina basketball win an intriguing subplot in the Gamecocks’ promising season.
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