South Carolina vs. Oklahoma: A Showdown with Championship Stakes
South Carolina’s softball team isn’t the only squad clashing with Oklahoma this weekend. Thanks to the way the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament unfolded, the Gamecocks and the Sooners will now battle it out on the hardwood—this time with a spot in the conference championship on the line.
Before the action tips off at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2, here’s what you need to know about Oklahoma and what they bring to the matchup.
How They Got Here
The Sooners wrapped up the regular season with an impressive 23-6 record, including an 11-5 mark in SEC play. Despite finishing with the same conference record as Kentucky, the Wildcats held the tiebreaker, forcing Oklahoma into the No. 5 seed and missing out on a double-bye.
That didn’t slow them down. The Sooners kicked off their tournament run with a dominant 70-52 victory over No. 12 Georgia on Thursday. Their defense stifled the Bulldogs, holding them to 21-of-74 shooting (28.4%). Raegan Beers led the charge with 22 points, three blocks, and eight rebounds, while Liz Scott came off the bench to contribute 11 points and eight boards.
They carried that momentum into Friday’s quarterfinals, where they upset No. 4 Kentucky 69-65. The Wildcats held a five-point halftime lead, but the Sooners surged in the second half, outscoring them 43-34 to secure the win. Beers shined again with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Kentucky’s Georgia Amoore put up 29 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in a losing effort.
Last Time They Met
This will be the second time South Carolina and Oklahoma face off since the Sooners joined the SEC for the 2024-25 season. The first matchup, however, was all Gamecocks.
Back on Jan. 19, 2025, South Carolina delivered a statement victory, crushing Oklahoma 101-60 at Colonial Life Arena.
Beers led Oklahoma with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t nearly enough. South Carolina jumped out to a 28-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Joyce Edwards paced the Gamecocks with 17 points, leading a balanced attack where five players scored in double figures.
While that game marked South Carolina’s first-ever win over Oklahoma, the Sooners still hold a 3-1 all-time series lead.
Where They Stand in the Rankings
The Sooners have remained a top-tier team throughout the season, currently ranked No. 10 in both the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls. After climbing three spots, they received 450 votes in the AP poll and 470 in the Coaches poll.
In the NCAA Women’s Basketball NET rankings, Oklahoma sits at No. 14, trailing five other SEC programs: South Carolina, Texas, LSU, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
The Sooners’ record against top competition is solid:
- 6-6 against Quad 1 teams
- 3-0 against Quad 2 and Quad 3 teams
- 12-0 against Quad 4 teams
Players to Watch
Raegan Beers (Junior, Center)
A key transfer from Oregon State, Beers helped fuel the Beavers’ Elite Eight run in 2023-24 and has been just as impactful in her first season with the Sooners. She averages 17.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and shoots an efficient 68.2% from the floor. Her dominance earned her a spot on the All-SEC First Team.
Payton Verhulst (Senior, Guard)
The reigning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year continues to shine in her second season with Oklahoma. Verhulst, who made the All-SEC Second Team, is the team’s second-leading scorer (14.9 PPG) and top playmaker (3.8 APG).
Sahara Williams (Sophomore, Forward)
After earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention as a freshman, Williams has continued to grow her game. This season, she’s averaging 10.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game across 31 appearances.
The Stage is Set
With a spot in the SEC Championship on the line, both South Carolina and Oklahoma will be fighting to extend their postseason runs. Will the Gamecocks dominate once again, or can the Sooners pull off a revenge victory?
We’ll find out at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
