What To Know About South Carolina VS Charleston WBB: Gamecocks Set for Historic Outdoor Showdown in Charleston
South Carolina women’s basketball is headed to the coast this fall for a game unlike any other on its schedule. The Gamecocks will face the College of Charleston Cougars on Sunday, September 27, at 4 p.m., as the marquee matchup of TheLinkU Invitational — an exhibition tripleheader at Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island, roughly 30 minutes from downtown Charleston.
The event marks the stadium’s inaugural college basketball weekend. Best known as home to the Credit One Charleston Open, a WTA-affiliated professional tennis tournament, the outdoor venue on Daniel Island will now host hoops for the first time, giving fans a setting far removed from a typical arena atmosphere.
South Carolina and Charleston will close out a full day of basketball. Virginia and Vanderbilt’s men’s teams tip off at noon, followed by a men’s matchup between the College of Charleston and The Citadel at 2 p.m. , before the Gamecocks and Cougars take the court to headline the event.
For head coach Dawn Staley, the trip carries a personal note beyond the novelty of playing outdoors. She pointed to the chance to bring the program to fans who regularly make the drive to Columbia , calling it an opportunity to “repay them” for their support throughout the season. Staley also praised the event’s broader mission, saying, “Every season we are looking to work with groups committed to growing women’s basketball, and we’ve found them in this event.” She added that the setting itself is a draw, noting the VIP experience packages and stadium give fans a chance to enjoy the best Charleston has to offer.
The event’s organizers see the addition of a Gamecocks appearance as a major coup. Bob Moran, President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment, called Staley one of the most influential coaches in all of sports and said South Carolina has set the standard nationally, adding that welcoming a program of that caliber to Credit One Stadium is “incredibly special.”
On the other side of the court, Charleston enters the matchup on a high note. The Cougars are coming off a breakthrough 2026 season under first-year head coach Amanda Butler, claiming both the CAA regular-season and conference tournament titles and earning an NCAA tournament berth . Facing a program of South Carolina’s stature will be a marquee early test for a Charleston squad still riding that momentum.
For South Carolina, the exhibition arrives in the shadow of a tough end to last season — the Gamecocks fell to UCLA 79-51 in the national championship game in April, watching the Bruins claim their first NCAA title. The Charleston exhibition offers an early, low-stakes look at the roster as Staley’s group begins building toward the new season.
Tickets: Fans can purchase tickets or VIP packages through the tournament organizers using code SCWBB, with South Carolina Women’s Basketball selectable for VIP packages. The Gamecocks’ bench will sit nearest to Section 103.
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