The South Carolina women’s basketball team added another milestone to its storied legacy Tuesday night, earning the program’s 300th win at Colonial Life Arena with a commanding 65-37 victory over rival Clemson.
The Gamecocks extended their dominance in the Palmetto Series to 15 straight wins, continuing their stranglehold over the in-state rivalry.
Joyce Edwards shines in hometown matchup
Columbia native Joyce Edwards led the charge with 18 points and eight rebounds, delivering a standout performance in her first rivalry game against the Tigers. Freshman forward Madina Okot joined in with a double-double, further showcasing the depth of Dawn Staley’s 2025-26 squad.
“It’s special to do it here in Columbia,” Staley said after the game. “This program has grown so much inside this building, and every milestone is a reflection of the players who built it.”
From win No. 1 to No. 300 — a full-circle moment
The Gamecocks’ first-ever win at Colonial Life Arena came on November 22, 2002, also against Clemson, marking a poetic full-circle moment in the rivalry. That 72-58 victory under then-head coach Susan Walvius was South Carolina’s first regular-season appearance in their new arena — and it ended an eight-year losing streak to the Tigers.
Stars Jocelyn Penn and Cristina Ciocan led that 2002 win, each scoring 23 points on efficient shooting. Penn, one of the program’s all-time greats and the only Gamecock with multiple 50-point games, also tallied six steals. Ciocan, who still ranks second all-time in assists at USC, added six assists of her own.
The 2002-03 Gamecocks went on to finish 23-8 and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament, one of two appearances under Walvius before Dawn Staley took over in 2008.
A dynasty built inside Colonial Life Arena
Between that first win and Tuesday night’s 300th, South Carolina has transformed from a program on the rise to a national powerhouse.
Under Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have:
- Won three National Championships (2017, 2022, 2024).
- Claimed nine SEC regular-season titles and nine SEC Tournament crowns.
- Reached five straight Final Fours and finished No. 1 nationally in eight different seasons.
No other women’s basketball program has matched South Carolina’s level of dominance since 2016.
“We talk all the time about legacy,” Staley said. “From the first players who stepped on this court to the ones now — they’ve all helped make this one of the best environments in women’s basketball.”
Clemson rivalry completely flipped
When Colonial Life Arena first opened, Clemson still led the all-time series by a comfortable margin. That’s no longer the case.
Following Tuesday’s victory, South Carolina now leads the rivalry — having won 15 straight and 19 of the last 23 meetings. The Gamecocks have lost at home to Clemson just twice in more than two decades.
Since the 2016-17 National Championship season, South Carolina has logged fewer total losses (34) than Clemson has in its last two full seasons (36) — a stunning illustration of how far the programs have diverged.
Looking ahead: A new challenge in Los Angeles
Now sitting at 3-0 to start the season, the Gamecocks won’t have long to celebrate. Their next matchup will be their biggest test yet — a Top-10 showdown against No. 8 Southern Cal in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 15.
The game, part of what’s being called “The Real SC Series,” will tip off at 9 p.m. Eastern and air nationally on Fox and the Fox Sports app.
As South Carolina chases its sixth consecutive Final Four appearance, Staley and her squad continue to prove why Colonial Life Arena has become one of the toughest places to play — and one of the most successful homes in college basketball history.
“We’re proud of the history,” Staley said. “But we’re even more excited about what’s next.”
