When Dawn Staley took over South Carolina in the 2008-09 season, the Gamecocks wore Nike uniforms. That quickly changed, as Under Armour became the program’s official outfitter in 2009-10, beginning a 17-year partnership that will come to an end after the upcoming season.
Over that span, the Gamecocks saw only a handful of major redesigns — but plenty of memorable looks.
The Early Years (2009–2013)
The first Under Armour set featured a traditional design, with “South” and “Carolina” stacked around the front numbers and “Gamecocks” spelled vertically down the shorts. The base colors were classic: white, garnet, and black.
2013 Redesign – SEC Era Begins
In 2013, just before winning their first SEC championship, South Carolina unveiled a new look that remained the template for nearly a decade.
The front now displayed “South Carolina” in one line above the numbers, while the back featured two bold stripes across the shoulders and a distinctive “neck roll” stripe on the collar.
Pink Power – 2014 to 2019
The 2014-15 season introduced pink uniforms for breast cancer awareness, decorated with garnet-and-black striped panels and pink ribbons. South Carolina wore these until 2019 but has not returned to pink uniforms since.
The Number Controversy – 2016-17
A unique detail during this stretch was the use of sublimated black-and-gray numbers, even on black jerseys. It looked sleek, but one game ended with USC being assessed a technical foul for non-contrasting numbers.
The fix came in 2016-17: garnet numbers on home whites and white numbers on garnet and black jerseys. Other tweaks included sublimated tailfeathers down the sides, a block C on the shorts, and round collars with piping.
2019 Refresh
In 2019, the uniforms got another update: side stripes returned, and collar stripes shifted to the outside. The whites, garnets, and blacks all shared the same design.
The Polarizing Pinstripes – 2021-22
South Carolina debuted an alternate garnet uniform with white pinstripes in 2021-22. The design featured “Gamecocks” in a baseball-style script across the chest. Fans were split — some loved the bold look, others hated it.
The shorts carried pinstripes too, with large white side panels that gave the impression of visible compression shorts.
The 2023 Overhaul
Ahead of the 2023 season, Under Armour rolled out South Carolina’s first full redesign in a decade.
The whites, garnets, and blacks all followed the same template:
- Double-stacked “South Carolina” above the front numbers — an unusual style rarely seen in college basketball.
- Contrasting trim around the neck and arms (black on white jerseys, white on garnet/black jerseys).
- Northwestern-style side panels with “USC” and “WBB” vertically printed on the shorts.
A fourth set, dubbed the “Cocky alternates,” was introduced as well. Instead of the school name, the front bore a block C, with garnet-and-yellow trim inspired by Cocky’s beak and feet. Though controversial since yellow isn’t a school color, players loved them.
The alternates became a good-luck charm during the 2024 title run. By the 2025 Final Four in Tampa, the Under Armour logo on the chest was even swapped to metallic gold.
Back Details and Fit Evolution
Throughout Under Armour’s tenure, the nameplate always sat below the numbers, with a racerback cut that evolved from baggy fits in the early 2010s to today’s tighter, modern style. Shorts also grew shorter over time.
There were occasional hiccups — for example, inconsistent styling of Mikiah Herbert Harrigan’s name, which sometimes appeared double-stacked, sometimes single-lined, and at times even with an incorrect hyphen.
Closing Chapter
From traditional stripes to pink ribbons, bold pinstripes, and the beloved Cocky alternates, Under Armour’s 17-year run shaped South Carolina’s modern basketball identity. With the switch back to Nike on the horizon in 2026, fans will soon see the next evolution of Gamecock uniforms — and another era of iconic loo
