South Carolina is set to begin its quest for a ninth SEC Tournament championship on Friday afternoon in Greenville. Led by head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks (27-3, 15-1 SEC) enter the conference tournament as the No. 1 seed, riding the momentum of a four-game winning streak.
With their eyes set on another title, South Carolina heads into the tournament in excellent form. Here are five key factors working in their favor as they prepare to take on the best of the SEC.
Winning the Coin Flip Provides a Crucial Advantage
Although it may seem like old news, South Carolina’s victory in Sunday’s coin-flip tiebreaker could play a significant role in their tournament success. The Gamecocks secured the No. 1 seed over LSU, earning them a more favorable path through the bracket.
As the top seed, South Carolina will open tournament play against the winner of No. 8 seed Vanderbilt vs. No. 9 seed Tennessee at noon on Friday. Should they advance, they would face either No. 4 Kentucky or No. 5 Oklahoma in the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
This bracket setup bodes well for the Gamecocks, as they have already defeated all four potential opponents this season by an average margin of 22 points.
Had South Carolina lost the tiebreaker, they would have been pushed to the No. 2 seed, forcing them to play at 6 p.m. on Friday and likely face No. 3 seed LSU in the semifinals at 7 p.m. on Saturday. While the Gamecocks have the talent to defeat LSU—especially with the Tigers missing star Flau’jae Johnson due to injury—Staley and her squad would much rather face their toughest challenge in the championship game rather than earlier in the tournament.
Building Momentum: South Carolina Approaching Peak Form
Coach Staley has emphasized the importance of South Carolina playing at its best heading into the postseason, rather than waiting for March Madness to shift into high gear.
Ahead of last week’s 75-59 victory over Ole Miss, Staley stressed the need for the Gamecocks to elevate their level of play and establish consistency across the roster. A week later, she believes they are close to achieving that goal.
“I think we’re moving toward that,” Staley said. “Certain players are certainly playing a lot better, a lot more focused, a lot more impactful on both sides of the basketball. And it’s a lot of them. … Throughout the season we would have a player here play well, a player there. But I think there are a lot of players playing well, which makes us feel good about going into postseason play.”
With multiple players stepping up, South Carolina appears to be hitting its stride at the right time.
Chloe Kitts is Making Her Presence Felt
One of South Carolina’s brightest stars over the past week has been Chloe Kitts. The talented forward made history last week against Ole Miss, recording the ninth triple-double in program history with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. She followed that performance with another dominant outing against Kentucky, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Her stellar play earned her USBWA National Player of the Week honors, marking a major milestone in her breakout season.
Kitts is currently averaging a career-high 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, leading the team in rebounding.
“Obviously, triple-doubles are gonna give you some confidence,” Staley said last week. “Where that confidence leads you—to chase the repeat of doing it again, or just to play the right way? Chloe got it because she played the right way for as long as she was in the game. And if she can continue to stay playing the right way, she might find herself in another triple-double situation.”
Kitts’ growth has been instrumental for the Gamecocks, and if she maintains her current form, she could be a game-changer in the tournament.
Tessa Johnson Looks to Regain Her “Tournament Tessa” Form
Tessa Johnson had been struggling offensively in recent weeks, but her performance against Kentucky suggests she may have turned a corner just in time for the postseason.
Between South Carolina’s loss to Texas last month and last week’s win over Ole Miss, Johnson had been in a shooting slump, averaging just 4.4 points per game while hitting only 28.6% of her three-point attempts. However, against Kentucky, she found her rhythm, scoring a team-high 16 points off the bench on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting, including two made three-pointers.
Johnson has a history of stepping up in big moments. She earned the nickname “Tournament Tessa” after a strong showing in last year’s NCAA Tournament, where she averaged 10 points per game and shot 39% from beyond the arc. Her best performance came in the national championship game against Iowa, where she dropped 19 points to help lead South Carolina to victory.
If Johnson can rediscover that clutch scoring ability, she could provide a massive boost for the Gamecocks as they aim for another deep postseason run.
Defensive Resilience Will Be Key in the Tournament
South Carolina’s defensive tenacity was on full display in the final minutes of its recent win over Kentucky, a trait that could prove crucial in their SEC Tournament campaign.
After the Wildcats cut the lead to just one with five minutes remaining, the Gamecocks locked in defensively, forcing seven turnovers that sparked a 13-2 run to put the game away. In total, they forced 14 turnovers and scored 19 points off those mistakes.
The ability to generate defensive stops in key moments is often the difference between winning and losing in tournament play. If South Carolina can replicate that defensive intensity consistently, they will be in an excellent position to dominate their competition.
“Defense, that’s something I cherish,” said Raven Johnson after the Kentucky game. “I think defense wins championships.”
With a balanced offensive attack, emerging stars like Kitts and Johnson, and a commitment to suffocating defense, South Carolina looks poised for a deep run in the SEC Tournament—and potentially beyond.
Looking Ahead: South Carolina’s Path to Another SEC Title
The Gamecocks have all the tools to capture their ninth SEC Tournament championship. Their dominant regular-season performances, depth, and experience give them a significant edge over the competition. However, Staley’s squad knows that past success doesn’t guarantee future victories. They must maintain their high level of play, stay focused, and execute in the moments that matter most.
If they can do that, South Carolina may soon be adding another SEC Tournament trophy to its collection.
Five things going right for South Carolina WBB ahead of SEC Tournament
