COLUMBIA — Riding a 38-game win streak, defending national champion South Carolina women’s basketball is ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll ahead of the 2024-25 season.
The Gamecocks and coach Dawn Staley finished as the top team in the final AP poll of the 2023-24 season released on April 8, one day after the national championship game against Iowa, in which they won 87-75.
It was announced Monday that they were voted to finish first in the Southeastern Conference this season by media members. Fifth-year guard Te-Hina Paopao was South Carolina’s lone first-team All-SEC selection. Sophomore MiLaysia Fulwiley and junior Raven Johnson were named second-team All-SEC.
Ahead of the record-breaking season last year, South Carolina was ranked No. 6 and was voted to finish second in the SEC.
SEC RANKINGS: South Carolina women’s basketball, Dawn Staley voted No. 1 in SEC preseason poll
The Gamecocks face Memphis (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+) on Tuesday in an exhibition as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic at FedEx Forum. The season officially kicks off on Nov. 4 against Michigan at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
They face 11 of the AP Top 25 teams this season, starting with No. 9 NC State on Nov. 10 in the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, shortly before a West Coast trip to play No. 5 UCLA on Nov. 24 in Pauley Pavilion.
No. 4 Texas is now part of the new 16-team SEC, and its two games against South Carolina will display two of the toughest teams in the conference. The Longhorns travel to Columbia on Jan. 12, then host the Gamecocks on Feb. 9. Former Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer, now at Texas, makes his return to the SEC.
The Gamecocks face No. 2 UConn at home on Feb. 16, 2025.
MEMPHIS TUESDAY NIGHT: What to know of South Carolina women’s basketball exhibition vs Memphis, including lineups, injuries
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin
