South Carolina WBB remains dominant, but one issue persists.

In a stunning twist, South Carolina’s women’s basketball team saw its SEC regular season winning streak come to an end with a hard-fought 66-62 loss at Texas. This marked the Gamecocks’ first SEC loss since December 30, 2021. While the defeat is disappointing, it’s important to note that the team’s goals remain very much in reach.

South Carolina (22-2, 10-1 SEC) still has a clear path to securing another SEC regular season title if they can win out in their final five games. This would also place them in a strong position as the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, with a real shot at taking the title there. And, as always, the NCAA Tournament looms large, with a fourth National Championship very much in sight.

As Head Coach Dawn Staley put it, “The law of averages says at some point somebody is going to get you. I’m just glad they didn’t get us where we can’t survive. We still control our own destiny.”

While having goals is crucial, the challenge remains to achieve them. A single close loss doesn’t alter the bigger picture, but it does highlight a recurring issue for the Gamecocks that could be concerning as the season progresses.

Both of South Carolina’s losses this year have featured dominant post players who have exploited the Gamecocks’ defense in the paint. In November, it was UCLA’s Lauren Betts, who notched a double-double and attacked the basket with ease. In this game, Texas’ Kyla Oldacre proved to be a force, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and pushing around South Carolina’s frontcourt. This was such a problem that Staley made the decision to change up her rotation during crunch time.

Chloe Kitts and Joyce Edwards didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter, with Sania Feagin getting the nod due to her ability to match up with Oldacre. Staley acknowledged, “They used Oldacre to finish us. She did a great job. She came through time and time again with crucial baskets.”

The stats paint a clear picture of Texas’ dominance inside, winning the paint battle 40-26 and outrebounding South Carolina 42-35. This marks the second time in a month that the Gamecocks have lost the rebounding battle to one of their top SEC rivals. Combined with previous losses to LSU, Tennessee, and UCLA in the rebounding category, it’s becoming clear that South Carolina is facing challenges on the boards against elite teams.

However, this issue—while significant—is almost a “luxury problem” for the Gamecocks. Their offense remains elite, their defense is top-notch, and their depth continues to outmatch most opponents. Still, the rebounding struggles, particularly since the injury to Ashlyn Watkins, are likely to persist throughout the season. South Carolina will need favorable matchups in the NCAA Tournament to avoid facing teams with dominant forwards.

“We give up too much when Chloe or Joyce are on her,” said Staley of Oldacre. “We could have tried Adhel Tac, she’s just not experienced enough. She’s a very experienced post player. I thought she brought it all home for them.”

As February rolls on and the regular season nears its conclusion, the Gamecocks are what they are: an incredibly talented team with one glaring weakness that they’ll need to work around. If the matchups are favorable, they remain one of the favorites to claim the National Championship, but only time will tell how they navigate these challenges in the coming months.