South Carolina women’s basketball No. 1 seed outlook in ESPN bracketology before Selection Sunday is sharpening into focus — and the path is anything but simple.

The confetti hasn’t even settled from another SEC title run, and already the conversation has shifted. Postseason projections. Regional paths. Potential heavyweight clashes under bright March lights.

The No. 3-ranked (27–2, 13–1 SEC) have two regular-season games left, but the bigger picture is crystal clear: March is coming fast.

Head coach watched her team clinch a fifth straight SEC regular-season championship after dispatching Ole Miss at Colonial Life Arena, the net snapping and the crowd roaring in appreciation. Now, the focus tightens. The rotations shorten. The stakes rise.

And according to bracketologist , South Carolina is still firmly planted on the No. 1 seed line.

Holding the Line at the Top

Creme’s latest projection keeps the Gamecocks as one of four No. 1 seeds, ranked third overall behind and .

That positioning matters.

If the tournament began today:

South Carolina would host the first two rounds in Columbia.
The Sweet 16 and Elite Eight would send them to Fort Worth.
The projected regional is loaded with athleticism, length, and veteran guard play.

The Gamecocks haven’t slipped. They haven’t surged. They’ve stayed steady — and in late February, steadiness is power.

A Region in Motion

While South Carolina’s seed remains unchanged, the terrain around them has shifted.

Only three teams from last week’s Fort Worth Region 3 projection remain in place:

(No. 9 seed)
(No. 12 seed)
(now up to a No. 6 seed)

Georgia is particularly intriguing. The Bulldogs are the only team in this projected region that South Carolina has already faced this season — a familiarity that could matter if paths cross again under tournament pressure.

Movement elsewhere in the bracket has reshaped potential matchups. New faces. New threats. Same ultimate prize.

Opening Weekend Outlook in Columbia

If projections hold, South Carolina’s first-round matchup would come against the winner of a First Four clash between:

On paper, that’s a favorable opener. But March doesn’t respect paper.

The Round of 32 could bring a sharper edge. The winner of:

(No. 8 seed)

would likely await.

Oregon brings pace and perimeter pressure. Villanova thrives on spacing and shot selection. Either would test South Carolina’s defensive communication and transition control.

But the true heat of the region sits further down the bracket.

The Heavyweights Lurking

Two teams stand out as the most dangerous obstacles in Fort Worth:

No. 2 seed
No. 3 seed

Iowa enters at 22–5 and ranked inside the AP Top 10, blending perimeter shooting with experienced leadership. Their offensive rhythm can turn a game into a track meet in minutes.

Duke, meanwhile, stumbled early but has surged back into national relevance. Physical. Disciplined. Comfortable in grind-it-out contests.

Either matchup in an Elite Eight setting would feel like a Final Four before the Final Four.

Full Fort Worth Region 3 Projection

Here’s how ESPN’s latest bracketology maps the region:

Columbia Pod

No. 1 South Carolina
No. 16 Alabama A&M / No. 16 Chattanooga
No. 8 Oregon
No. 9 Villanova

East Lansing Pod

No. 5
No. 12 / No. 12 Colorado
No. 4
No. 13

Durham Pod

No. 6 Georgia
No. 11
No. 3 Duke
No. 14

Iowa City Pod

No. 7
No. 10
No. 2 Iowa
No. 15

It’s balanced. It’s physical. It’s built for drama.

What This Means for South Carolina

Here’s the reality:

The Gamecocks control their seed line.
Hosting through the first weekend provides a real edge.
The regional path is demanding but manageable.

South Carolina’s identity hasn’t wavered all season — elite rebounding, suffocating half-court defense, and a roster deep enough to survive foul trouble and fatigue. When the bench rises as one after a block or a fast-break finish, you feel the weight of a program that expects to play into April.

There’s an authority in how this team moves. Calm in late-game moments. Ruthless in transition.

The final week of the regular season isn’t about proving worth. It’s about sharpening details — defensive rotations, late-clock execution, free-throw consistency. Small things that become enormous in March.

Because in a region filled with surging contenders and blue-blood pedigrees, margins will shrink.

And yet, South Carolina remains steady on the No. 1 line — exactly where championship programs position themselves when the bracket tightens and the lights grow brighter.

South Carolina women’s basketball No. 1 seed outlook in ESPN bracketology before Selection Sunday is sharpening into focus.