The highly anticipated South Carolina vs. Southern Cal women’s basketball showdown is finally approaching, but the No. 3 Trojans have encountered an unexpected travel complication ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster matchup against the No. 1 Gamecocks.
Both undefeated programs are preparing for one of the biggest early-season tests in women’s college basketball. However, Southern Cal’s journey to Greenville, South Carolina, was disrupted Friday after a rare nationwide Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop temporarily halted departing flights across the country.
The delay left head coach Lindsay Gottlieb and her players stranded in Los Angeles overnight, creating an unusual wrinkle ahead of their meeting with Dawn Staley’s defending powerhouse.
Southern Cal subsequently confirmed its revised travel plans, announcing that the team would remain in Los Angeles Friday night before departing for Greenville on Saturday, November 14.
The Trojans are scheduled to meet South Carolina on Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, with national television coverage on ABC.
When Will Southern Cal Arrive in South Carolina?
Southern Cal’s travel disruption became a major talking point Friday after the FAA issued its nationwide ground stoppage.
The Trojans were originally scheduled to travel from Los Angeles to Greenville ahead of Sunday’s nationally televised contest. Instead, the team remained grounded as departing flights were temporarily suspended.
The program provided an update through its official women’s basketball account on X.
“We will remain in Los Angeles tonight and are set to depart for Greenville (Saturday),” the team announced.
That means the Trojans are expected to make their cross-country journey Saturday, November 14, giving them the remainder of the day to reach South Carolina and prepare for Sunday’s game.
However, the team has not publicly confirmed an exact arrival time in Greenville.
Despite the unexpected interruption, the matchup remains scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
How to Watch South Carolina vs. Southern Cal
Basketball fans won’t need a streaming subscription to catch this heavyweight contest if they have access to ABC.
The two programs will meet in the second installment of the neutral-site series known as “The Real SC.”
Here are the essential broadcast details:
- Matchup: No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 Southern Cal
- Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Tipoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Venue: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
- Television: ABC
- Streaming: ESPN app and ESPN.com
- Local radio: 107.5 FM
- Satellite radio: SiriusXM Channel 84
- South Carolina record: 3-0
- Southern Cal record: 3-0
Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo and Holly Rowe are scheduled to provide television coverage, with Dee Kantner also listed among the broadcast personnel in the supplied game information.
Fans can find additional event information through the Bon Secours Wellness Arena’s official game listing.
South Carolina Owns the Historical Advantage
Sunday’s showdown carries plenty of significance beyond the national rankings.
South Carolina has won all five previous meetings against Southern Cal, establishing a commanding advantage in a series that has produced some memorable moments.
The Gamecocks also dominated both encounters last season.
Their first victory came during the regular season at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. South Carolina then eliminated the Trojans in the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a convincing 101-61 victory.
That result remains fresh in Southern Cal’s memory.
The Gamecocks have outscored the Trojans by an average of 19.2 points across their five meetings, giving Staley’s program another psychological advantage heading into Sunday’s contest.
But this Southern Cal team has additional firepower, particularly with superstar JuJu Watkins back in the lineup.
Dawn Staley Expects a Dangerous Southern Cal Team
Staley isn’t overlooking the challenge facing her undefeated squad.
Speaking to reporters Friday, the South Carolina coach highlighted Southern Cal’s offensive depth, athleticism and ability to create problems in transition.
“They’re good,” Staley said. “They got a lot of offensive firepower. They’re complementary players, play their role to a T.”
The Gamecocks will need to control the pace and prevent the Trojans from generating easy scoring opportunities.
Staley specifically emphasized defensive discipline, explaining that South Carolina must disrupt Southern Cal’s preferred offensive positions and make every possession uncomfortable.
The emphasis will be particularly important against a team featuring Watkins, Jazzy Davidson and highly regarded freshman Saniyah Hall.
Southern Cal’s combination of size, speed and perimeter scoring could make this one of South Carolina’s toughest early-season examinations.
Why Southern Cal Is Motivated for Revenge
The Trojans have another reason to approach Sunday’s game with urgency: last season’s NCAA Tournament elimination.
Southern Cal suffered a painful 40-point defeat against South Carolina in March, playing without Watkins.
Davidson contributed 16 points in that contest, while Londynn Jones led the Trojans with 20 points off the bench.
Davidson recently explained to ESPN’s Malika Andrews that the loss has remained a motivating factor for the program.
She acknowledged that facing the team responsible for ending Southern Cal’s tournament run makes Sunday’s matchup especially meaningful.
The sophomore also praised South Carolina’s coaching and talent while expressing excitement about the opportunity to compete again.
The revenge narrative adds another layer to an already compelling matchup.
Four Players Who Could Decide the Showdown
Joyce Edwards — South Carolina
Edwards has enjoyed productive performances against Southern Cal, recording double-doubles in both meetings last season. She averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds across those contests.
The junior forward is averaging 15.3 points and six rebounds through South Carolina’s first three games this season. Her physical presence could become crucial against Southern Cal’s athletic frontcourt.
Jordan Lee — South Carolina
Lee’s defensive responsibilities could be particularly important.
Staley has previously praised her ability to help replace some of the defensive production lost through Raven Johnson’s departure. Lee has recorded five steals and two blocks this season while averaging 9.3 points and 3.3 rebounds.
JuJu Watkins — Southern Cal
Watkins is arguably the biggest storyline surrounding the Trojans.
After missing the previous season with a torn ACL, the star guard has returned with an immediate scoring impact. She is averaging 24.3 points per game through three contests.
Her ability to attack defenders, create shots and control offensive possessions could determine how competitive Southern Cal remains against South Carolina.
Jazzy Davidson — Southern Cal
Davidson is another major offensive weapon.
The sophomore averaged 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, two steals and two blocks last season, earning several national freshman honors.
She enters Sunday’s game averaging 19.7 points through three appearances this season.
Sunday’s Game Could Set the Tone for Both Programs
South Carolina enters the contest with historical dominance, home-state support and the confidence of an undefeated start.
Southern Cal, meanwhile, has the motivation of last season’s tournament defeat and the excitement surrounding Watkins’ return.
The Trojans’ delayed departure from Los Angeles adds an unexpected complication, but their planned Saturday travel keeps Sunday’s meeting on schedule.
With two undefeated Top-5 teams, elite individual talent and a lingering rivalry, the South Carolina vs. Southern Cal women’s basketball showdown promises to deliver an early-season spectacle in Greenville.
About this article
Discover more from ElitePressLine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
