The 2026 March Madness will see two SEC stalwarts go head-to-head against each other in the all-important Sweet 16 matchup this evening as the Oklahoma Sooners face the South Carolina Gamecocks in Sacramento.
So far this postseason, the Gamecocks have been on a rampage, winning their round one and two games with utter ease against Southern University (103-34) and the USC Trojans (101-61), while the Oklahoma-based side, after winning their first round game against Idaho, then battled it out hard against the Michigan Spartans, eventually emerging victorious with a tight scoreline of 77-71 to qualify for the Sweet 16 stage of the NCAA tournament.
While there are no doubts surrounding the competitive nature of this encounter, a few absences and tactical additions could very well prove to be the deciding factor come game’s end. Let’s take a look at the injury report, projected starting lineups, and prediction for this enthralling Sweet 16 tie.
South Carolina vs. Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Injury Report
Gamecocks forward Chloe Kitts, who has been nursing an ACL injury from September last year, still looks highly unlikely to play this game. The Gamecocks will continue to miss the services of forward Adhel Tac, who is yet to feature for the Gamecocks since early February after going down with a lower body injury.
Meanwhile, there are still clouds surrounding the availability of guard Maddy McDaniel, who missed her side’s first-round game against Southern after being down with illness whilst only featuring for a total of 2 minutes during her side’s comprehensive round-two win over USC.
The Oklahoma Sooners will get on court this evening with a full roster with no reported injuries as of yet. This could very well prove to be a significant on-court and psychological advantage for the Oklahoma Sooners as they vie for a place in the quarterfinals.
South Carolina vs. Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Starting Lineup
While the official lineups are yet to be out, this is what both sides could potentially shape up for in this all-important Sweet 16 game.
South Carolina Gamecocks
- F Joyce Edwards
- C Madina Okot
- G Tessa Johnson
- G Ta’Niya Latson
- G Raven Johnson
Oklahoma Sooners
- F Sahara Williams
- C Raegan Beers
- G Aaliyah Chavez
- G Zya Vann
- G Payton Verhulst
With both teams coming off the back of comprehensive victories, it seems like both Gamecocks and Sooners will stick with their winning combination for this high-stakes Sweet 16 fixture.
South Carolina vs. Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Prediction
Sacramento’s 4-leader Gamecocks have not only won their postseason games in an emphatic fashion; their regular-season form has made them one of the most potent teams of March Madness. While we expect this game to go down to the wire, Dawn Staley’s side might just eke out the Oklahoma-based program with a scoreline of 88-80.
Read More:
- ‘Would Hate to Play for Him’: Fans Left Unimpressed With Geno Auriemma As UConn Star Sarah Strong Plays for 39 Mins
- “My Heart Hurts”: SEC HC Laments Flau’jae Johnson’s Sad End to College Career as LSU Crash Out in Sweet 16
- Is Kim Mulkey Retiring? LSU Boss Sets the Record Straight After NCAA Tournament Exit
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
