South Carolina women’s basketball is heading into its first true road game of the season, and the challenge comes against a familiar opponent. The No. 1-ranked Gamecocks will travel to Clemson on Thursday night for an in-state rivalry matchup that carries plenty of history.
Dawn Staley’s team will enter Littlejohn Coliseum looking to extend its dominance over the Tigers, who have started the 2026-27 campaign with three consecutive victories. Clemson, meanwhile, sees the opportunity to challenge the nation’s top-ranked team as a chance to demonstrate how far the program has progressed under head coach Shawn Poppie.
The Gamecocks arrive in Clemson with considerable momentum after an impressive 84-39 victory over then-No. 12 North Carolina at Sunday’s Ally Tipoff in Charlotte. South Carolina controlled the contest and delivered the kind of performance Staley will want to see again against a rival playing on its home floor.
Staley believes her players are approaching the challenge with the right mentality.
“This particular team, they’re pretty locked in with the task at hand,” Staley said Wednesday. She also praised the team’s attention to detail during practices and scrimmages, expressing confidence in its preparation for the matchup.
However, Clemson presents a different kind of challenge, particularly with its ability to spread the floor and create opportunities through ball screens.
Clemson’s 3-0 start gives the Tigers some confidence, but South Carolina’s experience, depth and defensive quality will make this a difficult test. The Gamecocks will also be looking to avoid the kind of slow start that allowed Clemson to remain competitive for much of last year’s meeting.
South Carolina vs. Clemson: Game details and how to watch
- Matchup: No. 1 South Carolina vs. Clemson
- Date: Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, South Carolina
- TV: ESPN2
- Streaming: ESPN app and ESPN.com
- Radio: 106.7 FM
- South Carolina’s record: 2-0
- Clemson’s record: 3-0
Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli will handle the television commentary, while Brad Muller will call the game on local radio.
South Carolina has controlled this rivalry under Dawn Staley
South Carolina enters Thursday’s contest with a significant historical advantage over Clemson. The Gamecocks claim a 37-33 lead in the all-time series, although Clemson’s record book lists the margin as 38-32.
The disagreement comes from a December 6, 1980 meeting that Clemson recognizes as an 86-67 South Carolina victory. The Gamecocks later forfeited games from that season after an eligibility issue involving one of their players, which explains the difference between the two schools’ records.
Whatever the official count, the recent history heavily favors South Carolina.
The Gamecocks have won 15 consecutive meetings against Clemson, with the Tigers’ last victory coming in a double-overtime contest in 2009. Staley has also established an impressive record against the in-state rival, winning 15 of her 17 meetings with Clemson since taking charge of South Carolina.
That streak will give the Gamecocks another reason to approach Thursday’s matchup seriously, particularly with Clemson looking to produce a statement victory in front of its home supporters.
Dawn Staley identifies Clemson’s biggest threat
Staley has plenty of respect for the progress Clemson has made under Poppie, who took over the program in 2024.
The South Carolina coach pointed to the energy surrounding the Tigers’ women’s basketball program and credited Poppie with improving the team’s competitiveness. She also believes Clemson has developed a stronger sense of belief and confidence under his leadership.
From a basketball perspective, Staley expects the Tigers to test South Carolina with their offensive movement and ability to create space.
Clemson’s use of multiple screens could put additional pressure on the Gamecocks’ defensive communication. Unlike some opponents that rely heavily on one or two primary scorers, the Tigers have several players capable of creating problems.
Staley warned that South Carolina cannot afford to concentrate its defensive attention on just a couple of players. Every member of Clemson’s lineup has the ability to contribute offensively, making defensive discipline particularly important.
For the Gamecocks, staying connected defensively, communicating through screens and avoiding breakdowns will be essential.
Clemson believes it can challenge the No. 1 Gamecocks
Poppie is not approaching Thursday’s game as an opportunity simply to gain experience against the nation’s top-ranked team. He believes his players have a legitimate reason to feel confident about their chances.
The Clemson coach pointed to last season’s meeting as evidence that his team can compete with South Carolina.
The Tigers were within 10 points entering the fourth quarter of that contest in Columbia, trailing 45-35 after three periods. However, the final 10 minutes turned into a nightmare for Clemson.
South Carolina completely took control, outscoring the Tigers 20-2 in the fourth quarter. Clemson also struggled badly from the field, missing all 17 of its attempts during the period as the Gamecocks pulled away for a 65-37 victory.
Poppie acknowledged how badly his team finished that game but believes the experience can provide motivation heading into Thursday.
Clemson finished the 2025-26 season with a 21-12 record and an 11-7 mark in ACC play. The Tigers also reached the NCAA Tournament, making just their second appearance in the competition since 2002.
Their progress has created optimism around the program, and Poppie views a matchup against South Carolina as an important opportunity to measure his team’s development.
He admitted that few people outside the Clemson locker room expect the Tigers to win, but that belief is not missing among his players.
Two major things South Carolina must get right
Avoid another slow start
South Carolina looked sharp against North Carolina, putting together a convincing performance from start to finish. Repeating that level of consistency against Clemson would make life much easier for Staley’s team.
The Gamecocks cannot afford to give their rivals unnecessary confidence by allowing them to stay in the contest for too long. Clemson will have the advantage of playing at home, and an opportunity to build momentum could make the game more complicated.
Keep the focus on Clemson
Thursday’s game is only the beginning of a demanding stretch for South Carolina. The Gamecocks will also face No. 3 Southern California on Sunday in Greenville.
That upcoming showdown will naturally attract attention, but Staley’s players must avoid looking beyond their immediate challenge. Clemson is a dangerous opponent, particularly at Littlejohn Coliseum, and overlooking the Tigers could create problems.
Managing energy and recovery between the two games will also be important, especially with Southern California having two additional days between its games compared with South Carolina.
Injury update: Alicia Tournebize returns to practice
South Carolina also received an encouraging update regarding sophomore Alicia Tournebize.
Tournebize missed Sunday’s victory over North Carolina and was seen on the sideline wearing a protective boot on her left foot. Staley described the issue as a lower-leg injury.
However, the sophomore returned to practice on Wednesday, giving the Gamecocks a positive development ahead of their trip to Clemson.
Staley indicated that she expected everyone except freshman forward Kaeli Wynn to be available for Thursday’s contest, although Tournebize’s situation remained subject to assessment.
Chloe Kitts and Mia Moore headline players to watch
Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Chloe Kitts is becoming an increasingly important part of South Carolina’s rotation following her return from an ACL injury suffered in October 2025.
The fifth-year forward delivered an encouraging performance against North Carolina, recording a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Gamecocks in scoring.
Kitts has averaged 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds across her first two games back. Her ability to contribute on both ends of the floor gives Staley another valuable option as South Carolina enters a challenging part of its schedule.
Her performance against Clemson will be another opportunity to build rhythm and regain the form that made her such an important player before her injury.
Mia Moore, Clemson
Mia Moore will be one of the players South Carolina needs to monitor closely.
The guard led Clemson in scoring last season, averaging 13.3 points per game, and is returning for another year after receiving a sixth season of eligibility from the NCAA in October through a retroactive injury redshirt.
Moore is one of four Clemson players averaging double figures during the early part of the season. Her scoring ability and experience could be particularly important if the Tigers hope to keep pace with South Carolina.
The Gamecocks will need to limit her opportunities while also accounting for Clemson’s other offensive threats.
Thursday’s contest offers Clemson an opportunity to end a lengthy losing streak against its in-state rival, while South Carolina will be determined to maintain its dominance and protect its No. 1 ranking. With Staley’s team entering the game in impressive form, the Tigers will need a complete performance to pull off an upset.
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