Still the Team to Beat: Gamecocks Land Atop the SEC Preseason Poll Again
The SEC released its preseason women’s basketball polls and awards on Monday, and South Carolina was picked to win the conference once more. The Gamecocks also placed three players on the preseason All-SEC teams, a sign of how much talent Dawn Staley’s program carries into the season.
A Dynasty by the Numbers
The preseason pick extends a remarkable run. South Carolina has won the SEC regular season title five straight years and 10 of the last 13. Being picked first again signals that the league’s media still views the Gamecocks as the standard.
The Chasing Pack
The top four in the order of finish:
- South Carolina
- Texas, which tied South Carolina in 2025 and finished third last season
- LSU
- Vanderbilt, last season’s runner-up
Analysis: Texas and Vanderbilt have the clearest recent claims on the crown, and the poll reflects that. LSU, at third, is the third team in the group of serious challengers.
The rest of the order: Kentucky (5), Oklahoma (6), Ole Miss (7), Tennessee (8), Mississippi State (9), Alabama (10), Texas A&M (11), Florida (12), Georgia (13), Missouri (14), Auburn (15) and Arkansas (16).
Gamecocks on the All-SEC Teams
Joyce Edwards earned preseason first-team All-SEC honors and received one vote for Player of the Year. She was first-team All-SEC in each of her first two seasons and set South Carolina’s single-season scoring record last year.
Chloe Kitts and Tessa Johnson were named to the second team.
- Kitts missed last season with a torn ACL, but in 2025 she was SEC Tournament MVP and an honorable mention All-American.
- Johnson was also second-team All-SEC last season.
Analysis: Kitts’s selection shows voters expect a full return from injury, which is significant for a team that needs frontcourt strength.
The Full Award List
Preseason Player of the Year: Madison Booker, Texas
First Team All-SEC:
- Madison Booker, Texas
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
- Clara Strack, Kentucky
- Mikaylah Williams, LSU
Second Team All-SEC:
- Aaliyah Chavez, Oklahoma
- Talaysia Cooper, Ole Miss
- MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
- Tessa Johnson, South Carolina
- Chloe Kitts, South Carolina
Key Takeaways
- Favorites again: South Carolina is picked first after a five-year regular-season win streak.
- Texas is the main rival: The Longhorns are second, with Booker as Player of the Year.
- Three Gamecocks honored: Edwards on the first team, Kitts and Johnson on the second.
- Competitive top four: Texas, LSU and Vanderbilt each have stars who could challenge the Gamecocks.
Conclusion
The preseason poll confirms what recent history suggests: South Carolina remains the team everyone measures themselves against. But with Booker, Blakes and Williams leading the challengers, the Gamecocks will need to turn preseason respect into another regular season title. Predictions are only that, and the SEC race will be settled on the court.
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