South Carolina Women’s Basketball Lands Four ABC Marquee Matchups

The road to another championship season is getting clearer for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks, with four marquee 2026-27 matchups officially set to air on ABC as the defending national champions prepare for another demanding campaign.

South Carolina will appear on ABC four times during the upcoming season, giving the Gamecocks more nationally televised exposure than any other school in the country so far, according to the program.

The announcement arrives with the new season rapidly approaching. After months of roster changes, recruiting developments and offseason preparation, South Carolina is beginning to see the television spotlight match the expectations surrounding one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs.

Four games, four major tests

The first ABC appearance comes Nov. 15, when South Carolina faces the USC Trojans in Greenville, South Carolina.

That matchup should provide an early measuring stick for Staley’s revamped roster. Playing in Greenville also gives South Carolina an opportunity to showcase its program in front of a strong in-state audience while beginning a stretch of nationally visible games.

The second ABC broadcast arrives Dec. 6, when the Gamecocks meet Oklahoma State and star forward Audi Crooks.

The matchup carries some extra intrigue because it will be the first meeting between South Carolina and Oklahoma State. Crooks enters the season as one of the most recognizable players on the Cowgirls’ roster after averaging 25.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.

With Crooks capable of controlling a game around the basket and South Carolina traditionally placing a major emphasis on physical interior play, the Dec. 6 meeting could quickly become one of the most compelling nonconference games on the Gamecocks’ schedule.

Texas brings an early SEC challenge

South Carolina’s third ABC appearance comes Jan. 3 at Texas, putting the Gamecocks in the national spotlight during the early stages of SEC play.

There is already some history between these programs.

Texas eliminated South Carolina in last season’s SEC Tournament, ending the Gamecocks’ bid for a third consecutive conference tournament championship. That result gives the January meeting an obvious layer of competitive significance, even with a new season and changing rosters potentially reshaping both teams.

The game could also offer a major stage for South Carolina transfer Jordan Lee, who joined the Gamecocks during the offseason.

For Staley, the challenge will be managing a conference schedule filled with teams capable of turning one difficult night into a significant setback. The Texas trip will be one of those early opportunities.

LSU returns to Columbia

The fourth ABC matchup is scheduled for Feb. 21, when South Carolina hosts LSU.

The Gamecocks won both meetings against the Tigers last season, including their regular-season matchup and the SEC Tournament meeting. LSU, however, remains a familiar contender in the conference and is led by head coach Kim Mulkey, making the February clash another nationally significant test.

Home-court advantage could be especially important when the Tigers arrive in Columbia.

With the SEC continuing to feature a deep collection of nationally relevant programs, the late-February meeting could carry substantial implications depending on how the conference standings develop throughout the season.

A new-look Gamecocks roster

The ABC schedule is only part of the intrigue surrounding South Carolina.

The Gamecocks will open the 2026-27 season in Paris, France, against Maryland, beginning a campaign that comes with enormous expectations after last season’s national championship run.

South Carolina also enters the season with significant roster continuity. Tessa Johnson, Chloe Kitts, Agot Makeer and Alicia Tournibize are among the returning players expected to play important roles.

At the same time, the Gamecocks added talent through the transfer portal, with Lee among the most notable additions.

That combination of returning contributors and new pieces gives Staley plenty to work with as she attempts to build another championship-caliber team.

ABC schedule puts spotlight on Gamecocks

Each of the four ABC games offers a different storyline.

• Nov. 15: South Carolina vs. USC in Greenville
• Dec. 6: South Carolina vs. Oklahoma State
• Jan. 3: South Carolina at Texas
• Feb. 21: South Carolina vs. LSU

The Oklahoma State game introduces a new opponent and a matchup with Crooks. Texas offers a rematch after last season’s SEC Tournament disappointment. LSU brings another conference heavyweight to Columbia, while the USC matchup gives South Carolina an early opportunity to perform on a major national stage.

For fans who have spent the offseason waiting for the Gamecocks to return to the court, the television schedule provides another sign that opening night is getting close.

And with four high-profile appearances already secured, the South Carolina women’s basketball ABC games 2026-27 schedule is set to give fans several major dates to circle before the season even begins.