In South Carolina vs. Indiana, Two Best Friends Face Off on the Women’s March Madness Stage

Columbia, S.C. — Once upon a time, Te-Hina Paopao and Sydney Parrish stayed up late in their dorm room, dreaming of hoisting an NCAA women’s basketball national championship trophy together. Now, only one of them will get the chance to chase that dream.

The two former teammates at Oregon have crossed paths once again, but this time as opponents in the NCAA Tournament. On Sunday, Paopao, now with South Carolina, and Parrish, playing for Indiana, will square off for the second consecutive year in March Madness, as the No. 1 Gamecocks and No. 9 Hoosiers battle to keep their seasons alive.

The reunion, though brief, carries significant meaning for both players.

“It’s special to have somebody on the other side of the court,” Parrish said. “At the end of the day, she is one of my best friends.”

When the Selection Sunday brackets were announced, it was Paopao who reached out to Parrish first. The bond the two share remains strong, even with the separation of their basketball careers.

During Indiana’s first-round win against Utah, Parrish earned an and-one foul call, and Paopao—watching from near the baseline—couldn’t help but react. “When you get an and-one, you are very competitive, so you just yell,” Paopao explained, “and then she spotted me and we started laughing and giggling.”

How Te-Hina Paopao and Sydney Parrish Became Best Friends

The friendship between Paopao and Parrish started at Oregon, but both left the program after promising yet ultimately unfulfilled tenures. Parrish, the Indiana native and eighth-ranked recruit in the 2020 class, transferred back home to play for Indiana after two years. Paopao, ranked No. 11 in that same class, followed her a year later, joining South Carolina under head coach Dawn Staley.

Despite their transfers, the two remained close, staying connected through group chats and private moments from their time as teammates. Each summer, they’d take time to relax together in Eugene, Oregon, often enjoying a cup of coffee or lemonade by the lake.

“We’d always get a cup of coffee or a lemonade, like every day, and just relax,” Paopao recalled with a grin.

At South Carolina, Paopao has excelled, ranking third on the team in 3-point percentage (37.2%) and averaging 9.7 points and 3 assists per game. In South Carolina’s dominant 108-48 first-round win over Tennessee Tech, she posted 9 points, 2 assists, a steal, and a block in just 18 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, Parrish is enjoying a stellar senior season at Indiana, averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. In Indiana’s 76-68 first-round win against Utah, she contributed 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Last year, when the two teams faced off in the NCAA Sweet 16, Indiana nearly completed a remarkable comeback from a 22-point deficit, falling just short in a 79-75 loss.

“It gave us a little bit of hope, knowing that we played them so closely last year,” Parrish said of the close matchup.

Their friendship has weathered transfers, tournament runs, and the challenges of competing at the highest level. But on Sunday, that friendship will be set aside, even if just for 40 minutes.

A Competitive Bond that Runs Deep

The stakes couldn’t be higher for either player, as one will inevitably see their season—and college basketball career—end.

“That’s sad to think about,” Parrish admitted. “Just thinking back to the moment we stepped foot on campus as freshmen, we were 18-year-olds who had no idea what anything about college basketball was.”

But once the game ends, the love between these two friends will persist. After the final whistle, there will likely be a hug, maybe even a laugh about their goofy practice moments in pajama pants and beanies.

However, one will walk off the court one step closer to a national championship, the dream they once shared together. The other will remain on the sideline, cheering on her best friend.

“I just want to see her be great, be successful,” Paopao said of Parrish. “I love her with all of my heart, and it’s always love no matter what happens on Sunday.”