South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has released the Gamecocks’ 16‑game non‑conference slate, a schedule that blends marquee road tests with a handful of home‑court showcases.
The lineup features three conference champions, six matchups against teams that finished the 2025‑26 season ranked in the top 20, and a mix of neutral‑site contests that will take the team from Paris to Las Vegas.
Seven of the games will be played at Colonial Life Arena, while six others will be staged at neutral venues, including a season‑opening exhibition at TheLinkU Invitational in Charleston on September 27.
Early tests and home‑court openers
The first real test arrives on November 2, when the Gamecocks travel to Paris to meet Maryland, a game that sets the tone for a schedule that also includes a Nov. 8 showdown with North Carolina in Charlotte and a Nov. 12 road trip to Clemson.
South Carolina will host Florida Gulf Coast for its home opener on November 17, then head to Greenville on November 15 to face Southern California, a team that also earned a berth in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Thanksgiving and the road ahead
A Thanksgiving weekend at Colonial Life Arena will host the PowHER Players Classic, featuring Tennessee State, NC Central and Alabama A&M, giving the Gamecocks a chance to play in front of a local crowd before the holiday break.
Later in the month, Duke will visit South Carolina for the SEC‑ACC Challenge on December 3, and Oklahoma State will make a return visit on December 6, followed by home games against Wofford on December 12 and Albany State on December 16.
The schedule wraps up with a December 28 contest against Garner‑Webb before the team opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on December 31, capping a stretch that includes nine Sweet 16 opponents from the previous season and three games against NCAA Tournament teams.
Overall, the 32‑game slate promises a rigorous test of depth and resilience as the Gamecocks prepare for the rigors of SEC competition.