The stakes are sharp and the lights inside Colonial Life Arena will burn a little brighter as the No. 1 seed chases history — and if you’re wondering what channel South Carolina women’s basketball vs Missouri is on today, here’s everything you need before tipoff.
No. 1-ranked can clinch the SEC regular-season championship outright with a win Thursday night over the . The Gamecocks have already locked up a share of the title and the top seed in the SEC Tournament. Now they want the rest.
The crowd in Columbia is expected to swell early. The pep band will pound out its rhythm. And head coach — calm, intense, unblinking — knows exactly what’s at stake.
Let’s break it down.
What channel is South Carolina women’s basketball vs Missouri on today?
- TV Channel: SEC Network
- Live Stream: Fubo (free trial available), ESPN app
The matchup will air nationally on SEC Network, with Eric Frede and Christy Thomaskutty on the call from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.
For cord-cutters, streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers, and the ESPN app (with cable authentication).
What time does South Carolina vs Missouri start?
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 26
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Colonial Life Arena (Columbia, South Carolina)
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and expect the building to be loud well before the opening possession. South Carolina enters riding an eight-game winning streak, their only recent blemish an overtime loss at Oklahoma that still lingers as fuel.
What’s on the line?
South Carolina (27-2, 13-1 SEC) already secured:
- A share of the SEC regular-season title
- The No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament
- Control of its postseason destiny
But this program doesn’t celebrate “shares.” Not under Staley.
The Gamecocks are coming off a commanding 85-48 dismantling of Ole Miss — a game that felt over before halftime. The defense was suffocating. The ball movement crisp. The bench electric.
Missouri (16-13, 4-10 SEC), meanwhile, is grinding through the toughest stretch of its conference slate and enters after a difficult loss at LSU. The Tigers will need composure, rebounding discipline, and near-perfect shooting to quiet a Columbia crowd that smells a championship.
South Carolina’s 2026 schedule snapshot
The Gamecocks’ path to this moment has been relentless. Blowouts. Ranked wins. Road tests. Only two losses — one by two points to Texas in Las Vegas, another in overtime at Oklahoma.
Here’s how the late-season stretch looks:
- Feb. 22: def. Ole Miss, 85-48
- Feb. 26: vs. Missouri, 8 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 1: at Kentucky, 2 p.m. (SEC Network+)
- March 4-8: SEC Women’s Tournament (Greenville, South Carolina)
Earlier highlights included statement wins over Clemson, Duke, LSU, Tennessee, and Texas. The roster has blended veteran poise with explosive scoring spurts, overwhelming opponents in waves.
Keys to the game
1. Defensive pressure
South Carolina’s length at every position turns passing lanes into traps. When the Gamecocks force early turnovers, the game tilts fast.
2. Pace control
Missouri will try to slow it down. South Carolina thrives in tempo swings — sprinting in transition, then grinding in the half-court.
3. Crowd factor
Colonial Life Arena has become one of the toughest environments in women’s college basketball. The roar after a steal. The eruption after a deep three. It builds. It swells. It overwhelms.
Predictions, picks, odds
As of Wednesday evening, betting lines were still being finalized.
- Odds: TBD
- Over/Under: TBD
- Moneyline: TBD
Given South Carolina’s form and Missouri’s recent struggles, the Gamecocks will likely enter as heavy favorites. But late-season conference games carry their own tension. Senior night emotions. Tournament positioning. Pride.
Nothing is handed over.
How to stream South Carolina vs Missouri live
If you’re not near a TV:
- Fubo offers SEC Network with a free trial for eligible new users.
- The ESPN app will carry the live broadcast with cable login credentials.
Streaming allows fans to catch every possession — whether on a phone, tablet, or big screen — as South Carolina attempts to seal another chapter in a growing dynasty.
The bigger picture
Under Dawn Staley, South Carolina has become the standard in the SEC. The program’s identity is clear:
- Elite defense
- Physical rebounding
- Unselfish offense
- Championship expectations
The players don’t talk much about streaks. They talk about habits. About details. About finishing.
And finishing is exactly what Thursday night represents.
If you’re tuning in and asking what channel South Carolina women’s basketball vs Missouri is on today, now you know — 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network, with an SEC title outright hanging in the balance and a postseason storm gathering just beyond the horizon.
The confetti isn’t falling yet. But you can almost hear it waiting.
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