Predictions for every women's basketball conference champ and player of the year
From the ACC to the WCC, here are the front-runners and favorites for player of the year for all 32 leagues.
South Carolina Gamecocks
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More South Carolina news
- South Carolina adds Jordyn Palmer to top women's basketball recruiting classJordyn Palmer, the No. 7 prospect in the 2027 SC Next 100, has committed to South Carolina, sealing the No. 1 recruiting class for the Gamecocks in this cycle.
- “Geno Was Salty That’s All”: Fans React as Dawn Staley Makes Honest Admission About Handshake Controversy With Geno AuriemmaGeno Auriemma and Dawn Staley recorded another memorable battle when UConn and South Carolina met in the Final Four last season. Staley’s Gamecocks ended the Huskies’ unbeaten season as Auriemma was so close to tasting his 13th NCAA title.
- “Has Very Little to Do With The Handshake”: Dawn Staley Provides Insight Over Her Viral Heated Exchange With Geno AuriemmaFor years, Dawn Staley had to force herself to congratulate Geno Auriemma after watching his UConn teams beat her by 20, 30, or even 40 points. The South Carolina head coach knew that repeatedly facing the Huskies was part of the process of building a program that could challenge them.
- South Carolina opens No. 1 in AP preseason poll, with UConn second and JuJu Watkins' USC thirdThe Gamecocks took 23 first-place votes from a 31-member media panel, and Duke and Michigan round out the top five.
- Early top-5 women's basketball recruiting class rankingsThe Gamecocks are off to a hot start with three top-30 recruits. Plus, intel on remaining uncommitted five-stars.
- Zaniya Johnson, No. 18 in 2027 SC Next 100, commits to South CarolinaZaniya Johnson, the No. 18 prospect and the third-ranked post in the 2027 SC Next 100, has committed to South Carolina, she announced Wednesday.
- Breaking down the women's college basketball national player of the year raceJuJu Watkins is back. But so is Sarah Strong and other player of the year contenders. We handicap the race.
- Breaking down the women's 2026-27 AP preseason Top 25 basketball pollThe first poll of the 2026-27 season is here. We look at the projected starters and biggest game for each team.
- South Carolina leads women's basketball preseason coaches poll. See where UConn, USC others rankSouth Carolina enters the women's basketball season ranked No. 1 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports' coaches' poll.
- 2026 women's college basketball: Ranking the top 20 impact transfersWhich transfer players could make an immediate impact? We rank the top 20 ahead of the 2026 season.
- Women's college basketball 2026-27 freshman impact rankingsUNC's Kate Harpring leads the group, while two USC freshmen will slot well into a loaded roster.
- Women's college basketball 2026-27 preseason top 25 rankingsWatkins' USC starts at No. 3 behind South Carolina and UConn, while reigning champ UCLA opens at No. 13.
- Banks, No. 4 in SC Next class of 2027, commits to South CarolinaJezelle "GG" Banks, the No. 4-ranked player and one of the top point guards in the SC Next class of 2027, has committed to South Carolina.
- “She Doesn’t Come Out; That Bothered Me”: Geno Auriemma Revisits His Sideline Outburst with Dawn Staley over “Time Honored Tradition”After UConn lost 62-48 to Dawn Staley’s South Carolina in the Final Four to end its unbeaten season, Geno Auriemma went viral after the loss due to his verbal altercation with Staley. He was animated and had some stern words for Staley, who appeared upset with Auriemma’s reaction.
- Staley, Gamecocks land commit from No. 30 recruit Taylor BrownTaylor Brown, the No. 30 player and No. 5 point guard in the SC Next 100 class of 2027, on Saturday committed to coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina.
- How top 2027 women's basketball commits fit at their schoolsBreaking down South Carolina's five-star trio, plus more big women's basketball commitments for 2027-28.
- “Championship Loading” “Good Luck Everyone Else”: South Carolina Fans React as Tessa Johnson, Joyce Edwards and More Show Out in Exhibition Win for Dawn StaleyThe South Carolina Gamecocks won their first exhibition game against the College of Charleston on Sunday. The game ended with a comfortable 91-60 win for Dawn Staley’s team.
- “Little Bit More Aggressive”: Dawn Staley Demands More from Jordan Lee as Another Gamecock is Praised for Her EffortThe South Carolina women’s basketball team had its first real preseason test on Sept. 27, taking on the College of Charleston and coming away with a 91-60 win.
- How South Carolina's McDowell addressed lifelong hearing lossAyla McDowell relied on lip-reading and physical cues to combat her sensorineural hearing loss, but coach Dawn Staley convinced her to finally take action.
- Reranking top class of 2024 women's basketball recruitsSarah Strong remains No. 1, and a previously unranked recruit vaults into the top 15 of our rankings redo.
- UConn women's basketball to host Iowa at Gampel, South Carolina at Mohegan SunUConn's women's basketball schedule is set. Sarah Strong and the Huskies will open Big East play against Seton Hall and take on South Carolina, Iowa.
- "Career Right Now is at Crossroads": Geno Auriemma Reveals Why He Tore Into Paige Bueckers After Tennessee LossWhen Paige Bueckers and the UConn Huskies lost the national championship to the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2022, UConn legends like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Breanna Stewart went to the team’s hotel to console the Huskies. However, the Dallas Wings star was always confident that no matter what, she was going to end her college career with a title, but her approach didn’t sit well with her UConn head coach Geno Auriemma.
- Players Era women's hoops showcase to feature 7-figure NIL poolThe 2026 Players Era Women's Basketball Showcase -- which includes expected preseason top-10 squads South Carolina, USC, Texas and Duke -- will feature a seven-figure NIL pool, one of the largest in women's college sports history.
- Hidalgo, Strong among NCAA players inking NIL deals with UnrivaledWomen's college basketball stars Hannah Hidalgo, Sarah Strong and Madison Booker are among a notable group of NCAA players signing NIL deals with Unrivaled.