The South Carolina women's basketball team enters the 2025 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Women's Basketball Tournament as the top seed, following a stellar regular season culminating in a 15-1 conferen
ce record. However, since South Carolina and Texas split their regular-season series and had identical records against common opponents, the SEC was forced to use a random method, a coin toss, to determine which team would receive the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
The SEC typically uses head-to-head results, records against common opponents and other criteria to determine seeding, but were unable to use those tiebreaker procedures to produce a clear winner.South Carolina won the coin flip, securing the top seed and the most favorable path in the bracket, with Texas respectively being the No. 2 seed.
Tournament overview and potential matchups
The 2025 SEC Tournament will take place from March 5-9 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. As the No. 1 seed, South Carolina has earned a double bye and will begin play in the quarterfinals on Friday, March 7. Its first opponent will emerge from the earlier rounds, specifically from the matchups involving either the No. 8 seed Vanderbilt, No. 9 seed Tennessee or the No. 16 seed Texas A&M.
Advancing past the quarterfinals could set up a semifinal clash with teams such as the No. 4 seed Kentucky and No. 5 seed Oklahoma. Kentucky has demonstrated resilience and competitiveness and played a close game against the Gamecocks in the regular season finale. One of the key reasons for the Wildcats' success this season has been the play of graduate guard Georgia Amoore through her ability to control the pace of the game and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates.
The Wildcats have also proven its ability to rise to the occasion against elite competition, most notably with its victory over the No. 4 seed Tennessee , and has proven itself as a team that cannot be overlooked as a potential championship contender.
The No. 5 seed Oklahoma concluded the regular season with a 23-6 overall record and 11-5 in SEC play. The Sooners's offense has been noteworthy in its first season in the SEC, averaging 86.7 points per game and a shooting efficiency of 47.1% in the field goal range.
A prospective championship game might see the Gamecocks facing teams such as LSU or Texas. The No. 3 seed LSU has been a strong contender throughout the regular season; however, junior guard Flau'jae Johnson, LSU's leading scorer, will miss the SEC Tournament due to shin inflammation.
Texas has secured impressive victories against ranked opponents, including LSU and Kentucky, demonstrating their ability to compete at a high level. Their well-rounded roster and defensive intensity make them a serious contender in their first SEC tournament.
Team's focus and player highlights
Head coach Dawn Staley has been vocal about the team's defensive prowess, emphasizing the importance of "locking in" during critical moments.
"You need to take care of the basketball, you need to rebound, and you need to take good shots," Staley said. "I think those are things that we have to be very disciplined, and other teams have to be very disciplined in doing those things in order for you to get through this tournament."
In the 2024-25 regular season, the Gamecocks are nationally ranked 10th in rebounding, having accumulated a total of 1,269 rebounds over 30 games, averaging 42.3 rebounds per game and boasting a +10.5 rebounding margin, indicating their ability to out-rebound opponents consistently.
Junior guard Raven Johnson has been a standout performer on defense having 1.5 steals per game this season, and being named a member of the 2024 All-SEC Second Team. Heading into tournament play, Johnson's future at South Carolina is still up in the air with prospects of heading to the WNBA.
"Raven makes us a better basketball team, Raven's a winner, "Staley said. "She comes back, it increases our chances of winning a lot more basketball games. If she doesn't I'm sure the WNBA will welcome her. "
Freshman forward Joyce Edwards has also made an immediate impact, leading the Gamecocks in scoring with an average of 13 points per game , despite primarily coming off the bench. Her versatility and scoring efficiency have added a new dimension to the Gamecocks' offense.
Junior forward Chloe Kitts has emerged as a pivotal contributor for South Carolina, particularly highlighted by her recent triple-double performance against Ole Mis s. Kitts' rebounding and ability to impact multiple facets of the game make her a player to watch as the Gamecocks enter the SEC Tournament. Her proficiency in scoring, rebounding and playmaking allows South Carolina to maintain offensive fluidity and defensive solidity, even against top-tier competition.
Preparation and team mindset
The Gamecocks have been preparing for the tournament, focusing on both physical readiness and mental fortitude. Their strategy emphasizes taking it one game at a time, maintaining composure and enjoying the process. This approach has been integral to their success throughout the season.
A significant contributor to South Carolina's success this season is its bench strength, leading the nation with an average of 43.4 points per game from non-starters, accounting for 52.3% of its total offensive game .
"Our players are familiar with the tournament and having success in the tournament, but that actually goes down the drain," Staley said. "It starts over; it starts anew because we have two teams (Oklahoma and Texas) that we didn't have to deal with last year that have an impact on the outcome of the regular season and now the tournament. "
Looking ahead
With the bracket finalized and the stage set, the South Carolina Gamecocks are poised to make a significant impact in the 2025 SEC Women's Basketball Tournament. Their blend of experienced leadership, emerging talent and a cohesive team dynamic positions them as formidable contenders. The Gamecocks are ready to embrace the challenges of the SEC Tournament, with eyes set on clinching the title and further solidifying their legacy in collegiate basketball.