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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The South Carolina Gamecock women’s basketball team is set to face off against the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Women’s Tournament Final Four.

Texas earned their spot in the Final Four with a 58-47 victory over TCU in Birmingham, Alabama. This marks the Longhorns’ first Final Four appearance since 2003, and their fourth overall trip to the NCAA semifinals.

South Carolina has already squared off with Texas three times this season, with the Gamecocks coming out on top twice.

The two teams first met during the regular season, with South Carolina securing a 67-50 win on January 12th at home. Texas later avenged that loss with a 66-62 win over the Gamecocks just under a month later. The rivalry continued in the SEC Tournament, where South Carolina dominated with a decisive 64-45 win, capturing their ninth SEC title in the process.

The highly anticipated fourth meeting between the Gamecocks and the Longhorns is scheduled for Friday, April 4th at 7 p.m. at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

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Live from Columbia, South Carolina, I’m reporting on some exciting updates from the recruiting world for the Gamecocks. South Carolina has already secured two 4-star defensive back commitments for the class of 2026: top-100 safety J’Zavien Currence and On3 top-200 cornerback Peyton Dyer. These recruits pledged their services to the Gamecocks during the 2024 football season, and as GamecockCentral’s Chris Clark highlighted earlier this week, the USC coaching staff is focused on several more elite defensive back prospects. This could result in South Carolina pulling in an exceptional group of secondary players in their 2026 recruiting cycle.

One of the top remaining targets on South Carolina’s board is cornerback Samari Matthews, who recently took to social media to announce that he will be back in Columbia this weekend. Matthews, a standout in coverage, has visited the campus several times before and has an official visit scheduled for the weekend of June 20th.

South Carolina has been hosting numerous major targets across multiple classes since spring practices began, and Matthews’ upcoming visit provides a prime opportunity for the Gamecocks to further solidify their position in his recruitment. A strong showing this weekend could potentially strengthen South Carolina’s lead in Matthews’ eyes and elevate their standing in the broader recruiting landscape.

Earlier this winter, Matthews expressed that he could “see [himself] playing at South Carolina,” and emphasized that no other team has recruited him as strongly as the Gamecocks. He told On3, “Every time I’ve been to Columbia, I have felt the love from the fans and staff. They definitely make me feel like a priority.”

Head coach Shane Beamer and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have built strong, meaningful relationships with Matthews, which have played a critical role in their pursuit of him. These personal connections are vital in South Carolina’s efforts to land the talented cornerback.

When it comes to Matthews as a player, he fits the “Torrian Gray model” for cornerbacks perfectly. At 6-0, with length, athleticism, and aggressiveness, Matthews shares physical traits with recent Gamecock standouts like Cam Smith, Darius Rush, Marcellas Dial, and O’Donnell Fortune. However, Matthews ranks higher as a prospect than any of them.

According to the On3 industry rankings, a composite of rankings from On3, 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN, Matthews is positioned 68th nationally and ranks as the No. 6 player in the highly competitive state of North Carolina. He is also the No. 11 cornerback in the nation.

Matthews had previously narrowed his options to a top-four, consisting of South Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, and Oregon. However, Texas has recently entered the mix, making things even more interesting. As of now, Matthews has official visits scheduled to South Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, and Texas, with a recent unofficial visit to FSU as well.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this developing story!

COLUMBIA — Sarah Rumely Noble has been named South Carolina’s new volleyball coach, nearly a month after Tom Mendoza departed to become the head coach at Marquette. Rumely Noble joins the Gamecocks after spending the past three seasons at Appalachian State.

As part of her new role, Rumely Noble has signed a five-year contract with South Carolina, which will pay her $260,000 annually for the first two years. Her salary will increase to $275,000 in years 3-4, and $285,000 in year 5. Additionally, USC paid $95,000 to Appalachian State as part of her buyout agreement.

This is the first major hire for Jeremiah Donati, the new athletic director at South Carolina, who has been actively involved in supporting the school’s athletic programs since taking over. He was seen regularly during the Gamecocks’ women’s basketball team’s postseason run, attending the SEC Tournament and following the team through their games in Columbia and Birmingham, Ala. during their first four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Rumely Noble led the Mountaineers to an impressive 18-10 record and a Sun Belt East Division title in 2024. Her team also made an appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NIVT). This was her second 18-win season in three years.

A University of Kentucky alum, Rumely Noble was a standout player in college, earning four-time all-conference setter honors and receiving both SEC Freshman of the Year and SEC Player of the Year accolades during her playing career. She also spent five years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU before moving on to Appalachian State. Additionally, Rumely Noble has coaching experience at Arkansas, Wake Forest, and North Texas.

Tom Mendoza was widely regarded as one of the best coaching hires made during Ray Tanner’s 12-year tenure as athletic director. Under Mendoza, the Gamecocks made four NCAA Tournament appearances in seven seasons, including his first season, which ended a 16-year postseason drought for the team.

Ray Tanner was also responsible for hiring football coach Shane Beamer, who has already surpassed previous records by securing more wins in his first four years than any of his predecessors. Two of Tanner’s more recent hires, equestrian coach Carol Gwin and softball coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, have both found success early in their tenures, with Gwin leading the team to an SEC championship last week and Woodard’s softball squad currently ranked seventh in the nation.

In a major move on the transfer portal, South Carolina has landed Treysen Eaglestaff, a 6-foot-6 guard from North Dakota. Ranked as a four-star transfer and the No. 26 player overall in the portal, according to On3, Eaglestaff is also the No. 6 combo guard in his class. His decision to choose the Gamecocks over prestigious programs like Kansas, Kentucky, and Gonzaga speaks volumes about his value on the market.

Last season, Eaglestaff delivered impressive numbers, averaging 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. He shot 41.6% from the field, 35.9% from beyond the arc, and 79.4% from the free-throw line. He made headlines with a 40-point performance against No. 6 Alabama, draining eight three-pointers, and followed that up with a jaw-dropping 51-point effort in the Summit League tournament. His ability to score in all aspects of the game makes him an immediate asset for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks were in dire need of a backcourt boost, and Eaglestaff seems poised to provide that. Guard play was a notable weakness for South Carolina last season, and the team lacked a true playmaker. With Eaglestaff’s proven scoring ability, he’s expected to step in and make a significant impact right away.

But the Gamecocks might not be done yet. There’s growing speculation that Meechie Johnson Jr., a former South Carolina and Ohio State guard, could return to Columbia. Johnson, who originally transferred from Ohio State to South Carolina, became an All-SEC guard and played a key role in leading the team to the NCAA Tournament. After returning to Ohio State last season, he averaged 9.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists before stepping away mid-season for mental health reasons.

If Johnson comes back to South Carolina, he’ll join Eaglestaff and highly regarded freshman Eli Ellis, forming one of the most exciting backcourt tandems in the SEC next season.

More news…..

South Carolina secures commitment from standout transfer guard Treysen Eaglestaff

In breaking news, Treysen Eaglestaff, the standout transfer from North Dakota, has officially committed to South Carolina, according to his agent, George Langberg, who spoke with On3.

Standing at 6-foot-6, the junior from Bismarck, North Dakota, visited the Gamecocks just this past weekend. Eaglestaff ultimately chose Lamont Paris and his coaching staff over a list of high-profile programs, including Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Iowa.

Eaglestaff had an impressive season, ranking among the nation’s top scorers. He averaged 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Notably, he dropped a stunning 40 points against Alabama back in December and followed that up with a jaw-dropping 51-point performance against South Dakota State earlier this month.

This commitment is a major win for South Carolina, injecting new optimism into Columbia for the upcoming season. The Gamecocks, who finished at the bottom of the SEC standings this year with a 2-16 conference record, will surely hope that Eaglestaff’s talent can help turn things around.

For the latest updates on the transfer portal and player moves, be sure to follow On3’s Transfer Portal Wire and stay connected with their Instagram and Twitter accounts

South Carolina has secured its fifth consecutive trip to the Final Four after narrowly edging past Duke to claim the Birmingham Regional 2 title!

At this point, for Gamecocks fans, it’s becoming a familiar sensation. Under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s women’s basketball program has solidified its place as a powerhouse. This marks the defending NCAA tournament champions’ seventh trip to the national semifinal since Staley took the helm in 2008.

But don’t let the dominance fool you — Duke put up an intense fight in the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils even held a four-point lead heading into the final quarter, thanks to a stellar performance from freshman forward Toby Fournier, who almost pushed Staley and her squad to face a rare March setback.

When did South Carolina last lose in March Madness?

Speaking of rare losses, the last time South Carolina was defeated in March Madness was on March 31, 2023, at the hands of an Iowa team led by Caitlin Clark, a two-time AP Player of the Year and current WNBA standout. The Gamecocks fell short in a tough 77-73 loss. Since then, however, South Carolina has strung together 10 straight March Madness victories, with a major revenge win over Iowa the very next season, clinching the 2024 championship in an 87-75 victory.

Despite Staley’s impressive run, South Carolina’s sustained success isn’t entirely unprecedented. UConn dominated the tournament from 2013 to 2017, winning 24 consecutive games and securing the first four-peat in women’s basketball history. The Huskies have also captured multiple back-to-back titles, so the Gamecocks still have some catching up to do.

However, the inevitable happens — the mighty will fall. It’s rare, but it happens. UConn experienced this on the men’s side this year, with Dan Hurley’s decorated team being knocked out in the Round of 32 by Florida.

More news….

South Carolina secures commitment from standout transfer guard Treysen Eaglestaff

In breaking news, Treysen Eaglestaff, the standout transfer from North Dakota, has officially committed to South Carolina, according to his agent, George Langberg, who spoke with On3.

Standing at 6-foot-6, the junior from Bismarck, North Dakota, visited the Gamecocks just this past weekend. Eaglestaff ultimately chose Lamont Paris and his coaching staff over a list of high-profile programs, including Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Iowa.

Eaglestaff had an impressive season, ranking among the nation’s top scorers. He averaged 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Notably, he dropped a stunning 40 points against Alabama back in December and followed that up with a jaw-dropping 51-point performance against South Dakota State earlier this month.

This commitment is a major win for South Carolina, injecting new optimism into Columbia for the upcoming season. The Gamecocks, who finished at the bottom of the SEC standings this year with a 2-16 conference record, will surely hope that Eaglestaff’s talent can help turn things around.

For the latest updates on the transfer portal and player moves, be sure to follow On3’s Transfer Portal Wire and stay connected with their Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Live from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I’m reporting on South Carolina Softball’s remarkable rebound after a five-game losing streak following their perfect 20-0 start. The Gamecocks, under Coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, have fought back impressively, taking three series against top-15 teams and defeating rival Clemson Tigers midweek. And this weekend, they stunned the nation, taking down the No. 3 team, LSU Tigers, in a thrilling top-10 matchup.

Let me walk you through how this weekend unfolded.

Game One

Friday night’s opener was a tough one for South Carolina, as the team suffered an 11-3 loss. This was their first run-rule defeat of the season. Nealy Lamb, Jori Heard, and Kadie Becker all took the mound but couldn’t stop the LSU Tigers‘ scorching offense. LSU racked up nine hits and capitalized on seven walks, consistently reaching base in nearly every inning. On offense, the Gamecocks couldn’t find their rhythm, recording no extra-base hits – a rare occurrence for a team ranked third in the nation for doubles – and only one walk.

After such a tough start, it didn’t leave much room for optimism, but Mother Nature intervened with bad weather, pushing game two to Sunday as part of a double-header. This gave the Gamecocks an extra day to reset and regroup mentally.

Game Two

The second game wasn’t the cleanest of performances, but the Gamecocks emerged victorious with a 5-3 win. USC jumped to a 1-0 lead, thanks to a two-error inning by LSU. Sam Gress took the mound, showing resilience as she battled her control but managed to limit the Tigers to just three runs on 10 baserunners.

In the seventh, Quincee Lilio and Karley Shelton smacked back-to-back doubles, and Ella Chancey followed up with a clutch single to push USC back ahead. LSU tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, but South Carolina wasn’t done. In the eighth, they scored two more runs with only two singles, and Gress returned to the circle in the bottom half to close it out, earning the complete-game victory.

Game Three

The Gamecocks, riding high from their extra-innings win, sealed the series with a dominant 4-1 victory. Jori Heard redeemed herself from Friday’s struggles with a stellar six-inning performance, allowing just one earned run and six baserunners. Sam Gress came in for the final inning to clinch the win.

Despite striking out 10 times, the Gamecocks had solid plate discipline, working five walks. Big hits came from Arianna Rodi, who delivered a crucial double, and Mya Flindt, who launched a home run. These extra-base hits provided much-needed insurance, as Chloe Lackey, Rodi’s pinch runner, and Flindt crossed the plate for the third and fourth runs, respectively. With solid pitching from Heard and Gress, those runs proved to be more than enough.

Next Up

Next week, the Gamecocks return home for a mid-week matchup against the Wofford Terriers on Tuesday at Beckham Field at 6:00 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+). Then, they’ll face another tough challenge with a weekend series against the Ole Miss Rebels, a top-20 team that may climb even higher after their series win over Missouri.

Here’s the weekend schedule for the Ole Miss series:

• Game 1: Friday, April 3rd at 6:00 p.m. (streamed on SEC Network+)
• Game 2: Saturday, April 4th at Noon (broadcast on SEC Network, streamed on ESPN app)
• Game 3: Sunday, April 5th at 3:00 p.m. (broadcast on SEC Network, streamed on ESPN app)

Stay tuned for more updates on South Carolina Softball!

LIVE REPORT: South Carolina Gamecocks Await Opponent in Final Four of NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

The South Carolina Gamecocks have officially secured their spot in the Final Four of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, but the question remains: who will they face in the next round? Tonight, the Texas Longhorns and TCU Horned Frogs will square off at 7 PM ET, and the winner will go on to challenge South Carolina in the Final Four.

When it comes to familiarity, South Carolina might feel more at ease facing Texas, with whom they’ve had a solid history this season. The Gamecocks and Longhorns have already met three times this year, with South Carolina holding a 2-1 edge. South Carolina won the first meeting, Texas bounced back with a win, but the Gamecocks came out on top in the SEC Championship, securing a 19-point victory.

On the other hand, TCU has certainly been making waves on their path to the Elite Eight. In their previous two matchups, they stunned No. 7 Louisville and No. 3 Notre Dame, bringing their impressive season record to 34-3. The Horned Frogs are led by Hailey Van Lith, who has been pivotal, averaging 17.9 points per game.

No matter who South Carolina ends up facing, it’s clear the Gamecocks will be up against a formidable opponent. The question now is whether they’d prefer to meet Texas for a fourth time or challenge TCU, a team they’ve yet to face. Ultimately, though, the decision is out of South Carolina’s hands—it all depends on tonight’s outcome. Stay tuned for the big matchup!

More news….

South Carolina secures commitment from standout transfer guard Treysen Eaglestaff

In breaking news, Treysen Eaglestaff, the standout transfer from North Dakota, has officially committed to South Carolina, according to his agent, George Langberg, who spoke with On3.

Standing at 6-foot-6, the junior from Bismarck, North Dakota, visited the Gamecocks just this past weekend. Eaglestaff ultimately chose Lamont Paris and his coaching staff over a list of high-profile programs, including Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga, and Iowa.

Eaglestaff had an impressive season, ranking among the nation’s top scorers. He averaged 18.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Notably, he dropped a stunning 40 points against Alabama back in December and followed that up with a jaw-dropping 51-point performance against South Dakota State earlier this month.

This commitment is a major win for South Carolina, injecting new optimism into Columbia for the upcoming season. The Gamecocks, who finished at the bottom of the SEC standings this year with a 2-16 conference record, will surely hope that Eaglestaff’s talent can help turn things around.

For the latest updates on the transfer portal and player moves, be sure to follow On3’s Transfer Portal Wire and stay connected with their Instagram and Twitter accounts.

South Carolina Basketball Coach Lamont Paris Lands Two Major Transfers, Eyes More Talent

This weekend, South Carolina basketball coach Lamont Paris made major strides in bolstering his roster, securing commitments from two highly regarded transfer portal prospects. The first came on Saturday when 4-star center Christ Essandoko announced he would be joining the Gamecocks. Then, just a day later, Treysen Eaglestaff, a 4-star wing, revealed he would be making his move to USC as well.

But Paris and the Gamecocks aren’t stopping there. South Carolina is expected to remain active in the transfer portal, with recent attention turning to sharpshooting guard Justin Bailey, according to The Portal Report. The former USC-Upstate Spartan and Wofford Terrier had a standout junior season and entered the transfer portal this week. However, the Gamecocks aren’t the only team pursuing Bailey; both Clemson and Georgia have also reached out to the talented guard.

Bailey, a Palmetto State native, first made a name for himself as a member of the Big South All-Freshman Team during his time at USC-Upstate. He also came close to leading the Southern Conference in 3-point shooting percentage this season, though he didn’t qualify due to insufficient attempts.

At Wofford, Bailey averaged 9.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 45.6% from beyond the arc on 125 attempts. The 6-3 guard also contributed 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Despite lacking elite size or athleticism, Bailey proved effective around the rim, converting about 57% of his attempts near the basket.

This season, South Carolina struggled with shooting, particularly from deep, averaging under seven 3-pointers made per game at a 31.6% clip. Bailey’s efficient shooting from the outside makes him a prime target for the Gamecocks as Paris looks to improve the team’s perimeter game. With one year of eligibility left, Bailey could provide a much-needed spark for the Gamecocks next season.

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‘Zyon Guiles’ Chooses South Carolina, Boosting Gamecocks’ 2026 Recruiting Class

Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks have just landed a key commitment for their 2026 recruiting class with the addition of Zyon Guiles, a four-star offensive lineman. Guiles made his decision official last Tuesday, pledging his future to the Gamecocks.

Ranked as the 157th best player in the nation, the 14th best offensive tackle, and the third best player in South Carolina, Guiles is a significant pickup for the program. His commitment comes after heavy interest from top programs like Auburn, Clemson, Florida, and Georgia. However, with his official pledge now in place, it’s possible that his previously scheduled official visits to those schools will be called off.

Guiles becomes the second offensive lineman to commit to South Carolina for the 2026 class, bolstering the Gamecocks’ depth at a crucial position. With Guiles on board, Coach Beamer will now turn his attention to further enhancing the offensive line through this recruiting cycle.

As South Carolina continues to add high-caliber talent, the future of the program at Williams-Brice Stadium is looking more promising with each passing day.