Despite an exciting and strong NCAA Tournament run, the South Carolina women's basketball season ended in disappointing fashion.
While the 79-51 loss to the UCLA Bruins wasn't how Gamecock fans wanted the 2025-26 season to end, it was still a remarkable season in Columbia. With the season officially in the rearview, it is time to start looking ahead to next season.
After the national title game, which delivered the Bruins their first-ever championship in women's basketball history, ESPN released its first way-too-early Top 25 rankings. As suspected, Dawn Staley's South Carolina team is expected to be a serious contender once again.
ESPN's rankings has the Gamecocks ranked No. 3 overall in its initial rankings, behind No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Texas. Here's how ESPN's Charlie Creme describes the Gamecocks outlook for the 2026-27 season:
"Last offseason, Dawn Staley hit the portal adeptly and strategically to get Ta'Niya Latson and Madina Okot," Creme writes. "Now, they must be replaced. More difficult will be losing the leadership and winning attitude of Raven Johnson. But Joyce Edwards, Tessa Johnson, Maddy McDaniel and Agot Makeer -- all top-15 recruits in the past three years -- make up a pretty good foundation, with McDaniel expected to assume the full-time point guard role.
Staley will no doubt attract more talent in the portal, too, and if Chloe Kitts and Ashlynn Watkins return healthy, the Gamecocks could be staring at a seventh consecutive Final Four."
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Here's a look at the full rankings:
- UConn Huskies
- Texas Longhorns
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- LSU Tigers
- Michigan Wolverines
- USC Trojans
- Duke Blue Devils
- Louisville Cardinals
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Vanderbil Commodores
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Maryland Terrapins
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Oregon Ducks
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Washington Huskies
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Minnesota Golden Gophers
- Villanova Wildcats
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- NC State Wolfpack
- Nebraska Cornhuskers
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- Farfield Stags
Also considered: Colorado Buffaloes, Princeton Tigers, Clemson Tigers
The 2026-27 season will tip-off in just a little over six months in early November. The countdown is officially on!