With a 20-1 start to the regular season, the No. 2 South Carolina women’s basketball team is having a strong 2024-2025 season in a conference featuring eight ranked teams.
Its only loss so far came early in the season against the then-No. 4 UCLA Bruins on Nov. 24, but the Gamecocks have since bounced back with a 15 game win-streak.
South Carolina sits alone at the top of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) standings through the first eight conference games. The Gamecocks' most recent win was against the No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers 70-63 on Jan. 27. In conference play, the Gamecocks continues it's record-breaking 55-game SEC regular season winning streak with an undefeated 8-0 start, securing victories over ranked teams like No. 5 Texas, No. 7 LSU and then-No. 19 Alabama during the height of SEC competition in January.
"Our team is resilient. I mean, they can win a whole lot of different ways," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. "The biggest pull on this stretch is mentally. Obviously, it's a physical battle just to play in the SEC, but to do it against the top teams in the conference is hard."
South Carolina also excelled in non-conference play earlier in the season, defeating then-No. 9 TCU and then-No. 14 Duke in December. The Gamecocks have faced more ranked opponents than any other team in the nation, winning all but one matchup this season.
Notable SEC teams in conference play
As of Jan. 27, the SEC has eight teams in the AP Top 25, the most teams of any conference. Three out of the eight SEC teams, including South Carolina, are ranked in the nation's top ten.
LSU has started its season off with wins against multiple unranked teams including victories against then-No. 20 North Carolina State and then-No. 16 Tennessee. The Tigers are currently ranked second in the SEC with a conference record of 6-1, its only loss on the season coming at the hands of South Carolina.
The Tigers bounced back from its recent loss with a decisive victory over the Texas A&M Aggies on Jan. 26, The win improved its overall record to 21-1 for the season, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top spot in the SEC standings.
SEC newcomer Texas is also a strong contender in the conference, boasting an overall record of 20-2 and a conference record of 6-1. The Longhorns round out the SEC presence in the top ten and have been consistently dominant on both ends of the court, with standout performances from its leading scorers and a defense that has stifled top opponents such as then-No. 9 Oklahoma, then-No. 18 Alabama and No. 17 Tennessee.
No. 12 Kentucky has faced a challenging season in the highly competitive SEC but continues to show flashes of promise with a young and developing roster. Despite occasional inconsistencies, the Wildcats have put together a solid conference record of 6-1, demonstrating its ability to compete against some of the best teams in the league.
Its resilience was on full display in a hard-fought victory over then-No. 15 Mississippi State earlier in the season. Led by new head coach Kenny Brooks, Kentucky is proving to be a formidable contender as they aim to climb the rankings and make a push for a spot in the top ten.
The Tennessee Lady Volunteers have demonstrated resilience under head coach Kim Caldwell, who returned to the sidelines for the game against the Gamecocks just a week after giving birth. Despite a recent loss to South Carolina, Tennessee leads the nation in scoring, averaging 93.4 points per game, with a strong emphasis on three-point shooting.
Mississippi State has also showcased strength this season, boasting a 16-6 record. The Bulldogs delivered a commanding 40-point victory over Auburn on Jan. 23, however Mississippi St. fell to the Missouri Tigers 78-77 on Jan. 27.
The Missouri Tigers have faced challenges, starting 1-6 in SEC play. However, the Tigers are looking to rebound after closely defeating Mississippi State.
Top players on the rise
Beyond team effort, individual performances on the court are just as crucial. An example of this is South Carolina's junior guard Raven Johnson, who is averaging 5.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game this season.
Johnson has been a key player on defense for the Gamecocks, effectively addressing in-game challenges. Johnson showcased her abilities during the LSU game during a sequence in the third quarter where Johnson scored a layup, stole the inbound ball and scored another layup which helped the Gamecocks hold off the Tigers to win the game.
An instrumental part of the Tiger's success is the formidable duo of junior guard Flau'jae Johnson and senior forward Aneesah Morrow.
Johnson leads LSU with an average of 19.7 points per game, highlighting her scoring ability and consistency on the court. Morrow complements this with 18.5 points per game and leads the nation in rebounds per game (14).
Ranked as ESPN's No. 5 top player in NCAA women's basketball, Texas Longhorns sophomore forward Madison Booker has been a standout performer this season. Booker has demonstrated versatility and efficiency on the court, shooting 48.9% from the field and averaging 16.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.
"Honestly, I was watching a lot of her game last night just looking at her highlights," senior guard Bree Hall said after matching up against Booker when the Longhorns visited Columbia, SC.
Senior guard Rori Harmon has also been a pivotal player for the Texas Longhorns this season. After returning from an ACL injury, Harmon has aimed to be even better than before. Her leadership and playmaking abilities have been instrumental in guiding Texas to a 19-2 record, with notable victories against five ranked opponents. Harmon's partnership with Booker's dynamic play has positioned the Longhorns as a formidable force in women's college basketball this season.
Junior center Madina Okot has been a dominant force for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, utilizing her size and skill to average 11.4 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, while maintaining a field goal percentage of 68.5%.
Fifth-year guard Georgia Amoore has been a standout for the Kentucky Wildcats this season, averaging over 18.3 points and 7.4 assists per game. Her leadership and playmaking abilities have been pivotal in guiding the Wildcats to a 16-2 record, keeping them in contention for the SEC title. Notably, Amoore was named National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 7.
What's Next?
The Gamecocks (20-1, 8-0 SEC) aim to continue its undefeated streak in SEC play on Feb. 2 when they return to Colonial Life Arena to face the Auburn Tigers (11-10, 2-6 SEC). The game will tip off at noon and air live on the SEC Network.