The South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The program enjoyed success under head coach Nancy Wilson during the 1980s in the Metro Conference, when it won five regular season conference championships and three conference tournament championships. Under current head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have improved their win totals every year, culminating in winning the SEC Championship in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. They gained number one seeds in the NCAA Tournament those same years. Following the 2014 season, Staley signed the second-ranked recruiting class in the country, highlighted by the overall top-rated recruit, A'ja Wilson. In the 2016â€"17 season, the Gamecocks won the national championship.
History
The first Gamecocks women's basketball team to compete at an intercollegiate level was in 1923 when they were called the Pullets.
The modern era of South Carolina women's basketball began when the Carolina Chicks took to the court in January 1974 under the guidance of Pam Backhaus. The inaugural team compiled a record of 15â€"7 and were the South Carolina AIAW Champions. In 1977, with Pam Parsons as the head coach the women's basketball team, they changed their nickname to the Lady Gamecocks and made post-season trips every year during her four-year tenure.
During its eight seasons in the Metro Conference, the Lady Gamecocks won the regular season championship five times and the conference tournament three times.
When South Carolina joined the SEC, success was hard to come by during their first decade in one of the strongest conferences in women's basketball. They initially struggled to compete under head coaches Nancy Wilson and Susan Walvius. Walvius' teams in 2001â€"02 and 2002â€"03 broke through to finish 25â€"7 and 23â€"8, respectively, earning trips to the NCAA tournament and reaching the Elite Eight in 2002.
Walvius resigned after the 2007â€"08 season and Dawn Staley was named the new head coach of the team now known as simply, "Gamecocks" on May 7, 2008.
Under Coach Staley, the Gamecocks have improved or equaled their win total every season during her first seven years leading the program, culminating with a 34-3 record in 2014â€"15. That year they won the SEC Regular Season Championship, the SEC Tournament Championship and the NCAA East Region Championship. The season ended in the NCAA Final Four with a last second one-point loss to Notre Dame in the national semi-finals.
The following year, the Gamecocks went undefeated in conference play, only to be stymied in the Sweet 16 by Syracuse. In 2016â€"17, the Gamecocks garnered their third straight sweep of the SEC regular season and tournament titles en route to their second Final Four. They defeated conference rival Mississippi State in the national championship game to win their first-ever national title.
Head coaches
2016â€"17 Roster
Year-by-year results
Conference tournament winners noted with # Source
Notable players
Gamecocks in the WNBA
Also drafted:
- Teresa Geter â€" 2002 â€" 36th by Washington
- Petra Ujhelyi â€" 2003 â€" 16th by Phoenix
- Aleighsa Welch â€" 2015 â€" 22nd by Chicago
Retired jerseys
Attendance
Over the years, the Gamecocks have played in three different venues. At first games were played at the Blatt P.E. Center. Later games moved to the Carolina Coliseum, which saw the first sell out for a women's basketball game on January 17, 2002. That day, 12,168 fans turned out to see the South Carolina Gamecocks take on the Tennessee Lady Vols.
On November 22, 2002, the Lady Gamecocks opened the newly constructed Colonial Center (later renamed the Colonial Life Arena). A near sell out crowd of 17,712 saw the Lady Gamecocks defeat the Clemson Lady Tigers. The first sell out with 18,000 in attendance occurred on February 8, 2016 against the University of Connecticut Huskies in a match up of the two top ranked teams in the country.
Top 10 crowds at Colonial Life Arena for Women's Basketball games:
Starting with the 2013â€"14 season, the South Carolina Gamecocks became one of the national leaders in attendance for Women's Basketball. In 2014â€"15, the Gamecocks led the nation in attendance with 12,540 fans per game. They followed this up with an average attendance of 14,364 in 2015â€"16, a season where every home game had at least 10,000 fans in attendance.
Between losses to Texas A&M on February 10, 2013 and Connecticut on February 8th 2016, the Gamecocks won 45 consecutive games at home.
Player awards
National awards
- Coach of the Year
- Dawn Staley â€" 2014 â€" Basketball Times
- All-Americans
- Tiffany Mitchell â€" 2015
- A'ja Wilson â€" 2016, 2017
- Dawn Staley Award
- Tiffany Mitchell â€" 2015
SEC Awards
- Coach of the Year
- Susan Walvius â€" 2002
- Dawn Staley â€" 2014, 2015*, 2016
- Player of the Year
- Tiffany Mitchell â€" 2014, 2015
- A'ja Wilson â€" 2016, 2017
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Ieasia Walker â€" 2013
- A'ja Wilson â€" 2016
- Freshman of the Year
- Kelsey Bone â€" 2010
- Alaina Coates â€" 2014
- A'ja Wilson â€" 2015
- 6th Player of the Year
- Alaina Coates â€" 2014*
- SEC Tournament MVP
- Aleighsa Welch â€" 2015
- Tiffany Mitchell â€" 2016
- A'ja Wilson â€" 2016
- WBB Scholar Athlete of the Year
- Aleighsa Welch â€" 2015
- Denotes Co-Player / Co-Coach
Metro awards
- Coach of the Year
- Nancy Wilson â€" 1985, 1991
- Player of the Year
- Brantley Southers â€" 1986
- Martha Parker â€" 1988, 1989
- Beth Hunt â€" 1990
- Newcomer of the Year
- Martha Parker â€" 1986
- Schonna Banner â€" 1987
- Tournament MVP
- Brantley Southers â€" 1986
- Martha Parker â€" 1988
- Beth Hunt â€" 1989
References
External links
- Official website