South Carolina Women’s Basketball Fans Near All-Time Attendance Record; Dawn Staley Calls FAMs Effortless

In an exclusive conversation with host Brad Muller, South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley shared exciting insights about the Gamecocks’ quest to break new attendance records. South Carolina has been the leader in national attendance since the 2014-2015 season, the year A’ja Wilson joined the team, and this year, they have already set new all-time records for both total and average attendance, achieved during their undefeated 2023-2024 national championship campaign. As March approaches, it looks like the Gamecocks could be on track to break those records again.

It’s important to note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the attendance figures from the 2020-2021 season are considered unofficial.

Staley expressed confidence in the fans, calling the record-breaking feat “easy” for the dedicated Gamecock supporters, known as the FAMs. She emphasized, “If you challenge the FAMs, they’ll come through.”

As of now, the total attendance record stands at just over 273,000. With Colonial Life Arena expecting a crowd of 18,000 for the upcoming NCAA Tournament, South Carolina is poised to break that record. The Gamecocks will host the first two rounds, and barring any unexpected setbacks, a victory over a likely 16-seed in the opener will likely help the team surpass the total attendance mark. However, it’s worth noting that the NCAA Tournament doesn’t always sell out due to unpredictable schedules and rising ticket prices.

The second round of the tournament will also be a significant milestone, marking USC’s 17th game of the 2024-2025 season, which equals the number of contests played in last year’s record-breaking campaign. If the Gamecocks can surpass 273,133 fans in total attendance this season, they’ll not only set a new record for overall attendance but also beat their previous average attendance record.

For fans wondering when to buy tickets, the exact dates for South Carolina’s games in the NCAA Tournament are still up in the air. However, fans can tune into ESPN’s Selection Sunday show at 8:00 p.m. on March 16th to find out more. The show will also be available for streaming on the ESPN app.