Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks’ next opponent is one that they don’t face too often, which is why fans are awaiting the game.
On Monday, March 23, Staley and her Gamecocks will face Lindsay Gottlieb’s USC Trojans in the second round of Regional 4 in Sacramento of the 2026 NCAA tournament on their home floor, the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
In an article by Lulu Kesin, published in Greenville News, it is revealed that the Gamecocks-Trojans matchup is set to be played on the aforementioned date at 8 p.m. ET, and its official broadcast will be on ESPN. Given that they hail from different conferences, fans are eager to see the two teams clash, as they are both powerhouse programs in their own right, even if USC is without its star, JuJu Watkins.
“South Carolina women’s basketball is playing Southern Cal in the second round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament on March 23. The game will be at 8 p.m. ET and air on ESPN, the program announced,” the article wrote.
Staley and the Gamecocks are coming off their first round triumph of the Big Dance over coach Kevin Johnson’s Southern Jaguars, wherein they dominated the game by 69 points, 103-34. South Carolina is looking to return to the women’s college basketball mountaintop this season after their most recent national championship victory coming in 2024.
Dawn Staley Shares Team Perspective During The First-Round Game Of The 2026 March Madness
In an article by Mingo Martin, published in On3, Dawn Staley’s post-game press conference was covered.
Staley was asked about her viewpoint on the first-round game in the current NCAA tournament. She shared a perspective that she told her team at halftime against the Southern Jaguars.
“This team is a little bit different than the teams that we’ve had because we don’t really have a core group of players that have been together that really understand it. So I did. I said, ‘Well, I’m watching the tournament. I’m watching. We’re going to have a game.’ Between Clemson and USC, it’s going to be a real game on Monday. I’m watching Oklahoma. I’m watching Michigan State. I’m watching Iowa,” Staley was quoted as saying.
“All the teams that are in our bracket, we looked a little bit different in the first half, looked a little different than them,” she continued.
Read More: Dawn Staley Reveals Reason Behind Sending Gifts from Luxury Brand to South Carolina’s Next Opponents in NCAA Tournament
Also Read: Can Lindsay Gottlieb or Dawn Staley Clinch the 2025 Naismith Coach of the Year Award? A Closer Look at the Finalists
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