**COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Dawn Staley era at South Carolina rolls on as the Gamecocks women’s basketball team gears up for another title chase, beginning with an exhibition matchup against Anderson University on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. inside Colonial Life Arena. The game will serve as the unofficial tipoff for the 2025-26 season, giving fans their first look at a team that once again enters the year with championship expectations.
FAN INFORMATION
Fans can get their first glimpse of the Gamecocks for free, as admission to the exhibition is open to the public with general admission seating. However, some seats will be reserved for team use and marked accordingly.
Parking will be available in lots surrounding Colonial Life Arena for $20 per vehicle. Doors are expected to open early to accommodate what should be another strong showing from one of the nation’s most passionate fan bases.
GAMECOCK NOTABLES
The matchup against Anderson marks the first of two exhibition games this fall — the second straight season South Carolina will play multiple tune-up contests. One of those exhibitions will feature a neutral-site showdown against an NCAA Division I opponent, offering an early test before the regular season begins.
The Gamecocks’ dominance in exhibition play is nothing short of remarkable. Since the 2009-10 season, South Carolina is 16-0 in exhibition matchups against collegiate opponents, winning those games by an average margin of 56.2 points.
And this year’s slate won’t be a walk in the park — South Carolina’s 2025-26 schedule includes 10 games against preseason-ranked teams, including six matchups with top-10 opponents. Three of those battles will come during non-conference play, underscoring the level of competition Staley’s team is willing to face.
NEW STAR POWER
One of the most anticipated storylines heading into the new season is the arrival of Ta’Niya Latson, a transfer guard from Florida State who was named by ESPN as the most impactful transfer in the nation.
Latson, who led all of women’s college basketball in scoring last season with 25.2 points per game, chose South Carolina because of Dawn Staley’s reputation for player development and her track record of preparing athletes for the WNBA.
“Coach Staley pushes players beyond their comfort zone and helps them grow in ways they didn’t think were possible,” Latson said during her introductory press conference. “That’s exactly what I wanted — to challenge myself at the highest level.”
With Latson joining a roster already stacked with elite returning talent and a top-tier freshman class, South Carolina once again looks poised to be a powerhouse on the national stage.
The Gamecocks will use these exhibition games to fine-tune rotations, test new lineups, and integrate fresh faces into Staley’s system. As always, expectations remain sky-high in Columbia — and with good reason.
The countdown to tipoff has officially begun, and all eyes will be on Colonial Life Arena as South Carolina begins its quest for another championship run.
