South Carolina Women’s Basketball: A Season Filled With Historic Venues, Road Trips and Fascinating Trivia
The upcoming South Carolina women’s basketball season features far more than the usual schedule of games. The Gamecocks will travel to several notable basketball destinations, including Paris, Uncasville, Charlotte, Greenville, Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Columbus, creating a schedule packed with history and interesting connections.
Paris: A Return to France
South Carolina opens the season against Maryland at the Aflac Oui Play in Paris, marking the program’s second trip to the French capital. The Gamecocks previously played in Paris in 2023, defeating Notre Dame, although that contest took place at Halle Georges Carpentier Arena. This time, the venue is Adidas Arena, which opened in 2024.
The Gamecocks have considerable international experience, having played 15 games outside the United States throughout program history. Their international records include 1-0 in France, 1-2 in Canada, 3-1 in Mexico and 5-2 in The Bahamas.
Uncasville and the UConn Connection
South Carolina will also return to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, where it previously defeated Utah, 78-68, during the 2023 Hall of Fame Showcase.
There is an intriguing superstition attached to the trip. The last season in which South Carolina played both in Paris and Uncasville was the undefeated 2023-24 championship campaign. That gives fans an interesting historical parallel heading into this season.
The Gamecocks will face UConn in Uncasville and enter that matchup with a 1-5 all-time record against the Huskies in Connecticut. South Carolina dropped its first five meetings in the state before finally defeating UConn in Hartford in 2023. As a result, the Gamecocks are technically riding a two-game winning streak in Connecticut.
Charlotte: Another Return to Familiar Ground
South Carolina is also scheduled to return to Charlotte for the Ally Tipoff, where it will meet North Carolina.
The matchup represents another appearance at Spectrum Center for the Gamecocks. Their previous game there came during an Ally Tipoff meeting with NC State, which South Carolina won.
South Carolina has also enjoyed considerable success against Charlotte in the Queen City, compiling an 8-3 record across 11 games. Charlotte previously allowed the Gamecocks to “host” NCAA Tournament first- and second-round games at Halton Arena in 2019, and South Carolina won both contests.
The Real SC Series Comes to Greenville
One of the season’s notable neutral-site games will see South Carolina face Southern Cal on Nov. 15 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville.
The venue has been particularly friendly to the Gamecocks. South Carolina owns an impressive 22-3 record at The Well, including NCAA Tournament and SEC Tournament games. However, there is an unusual twist: the Gamecocks have never played a regular-season game there before this matchup.
Historically, South Carolina has made only a handful of regular-season appearances in Greenville, including games against Furman and North Greenville.
Las Vegas Could Become Important in March
The 2027 NCAA Tournament regionals will be staged in Philadelphia and Las Vegas, while the Final Four will take place in Columbus, Ohio.
South Carolina has already played four games in Las Vegas, although those contests were spread across three different venues. The Gamecocks are 1-0 at T-Mobile Arena, having defeated Michigan there in 2024.
They also have a 1-1 record at Michelob Ultra Arena, where they competed during last season’s Players Era event. The Gamecocks are scheduled to return to that venue for two more games in December.
Philadelphia Could Offer a Special Connection
Philadelphia could be particularly meaningful if South Carolina reaches that regional because of Dawn Staley’s connection to the city.
The Gamecocks have an impressive 5-1 all-time record in Philadelphia, although they have never played at the arena where the upcoming regional is scheduled.
South Carolina has gone 3-0 at Temple and 2-1 at Hagan Arena, home of Saint Joseph’s. The Gamecocks also have a perfect 2-0 record against Saint Joseph’s, despite one of their appearances at the school’s tournament not actually being against the host team.
Columbus and Another Chance at History
If South Carolina reaches the Final Four, the destination will be Columbus, Ohio, marking the fifth Final Four hosted in Ohio after previous events in Cincinnati and Cleveland.
The Buckeye State has already been a successful destination for the Gamecocks. South Carolina went 2-0 in NCAA Tournament games in Ohio, with its most recent appearance there ending in a championship.
The Gamecocks are also 3-2 all-time against Ohio State, although they have a losing 1-2 record in Columbus itself. Ohio State won two previous meetings at St. John Arena, while South Carolina captured the only meeting between the teams at Value City Arena in 2016.
The Final Four Venue
The 2027 Final Four will be held at Nationwide Arena, which is operated by Ohio State despite not serving as the Buckeyes’ regular home court.
South Carolina has never played at Nationwide Arena, although the venue has previously hosted a Final Four.
The article also points out an interesting venue comparison: Value City Arena has developed a less favorable reputation among sports fans, while Nationwide Arena is regarded much more positively.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, the schedule creates several fascinating storylines for South Carolina. From a return to Paris and another trip to Uncasville to potential NCAA Tournament destinations in Las Vegas, Philadelphia and Columbus, the Gamecocks could revisit several locations where they have already created memorable moments.
And perhaps the most intriguing piece of trivia is the Paris-Uncasville connection: the last time South Carolina visited both locations in the same season, the Gamecocks went undefeated and won the national championship.
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