South Carolina Slides in Rankings Despite Statement Win Over Vanderbilt
South Carolina women’s basketball experienced a slight reshuffling in the national rankings this week, a reminder of how thin the margins are at the top of the sport.
Following a Thursday night loss to Oklahoma and a dominant bounce-back victory over previously unbeaten Vanderbilt, the Gamecocks slipped to No. 3 in the Week 12 AP Top 25 Poll. In addition, South Carolina fell one spot to No. 4 in the NET Rankings, metrics that play a critical role in NCAA Tournament seeding.
How the Week Shaped the Drop
The ranking movement reflects a split week for Dawn Staley’s team. South Carolina’s loss at Oklahoma snapped momentum and weighed heavily in voter evaluations, particularly given how competitive the top tier of women’s college basketball has become.
However, the Gamecocks responded emphatically. Just days later, they delivered a 103-point performance against undefeated Vanderbilt, ending the Commodores’ perfect season and reasserting themselves as a national title contender. While the win carried significant weight, the timing of the Oklahoma loss still proved costly in the polls.
The result: a one-spot slide in both the AP Poll and NET, rather than a steeper drop.
Understanding NET and WAB Impact
The NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) and WAB (Wins Above Bubble) rankings are updated daily and heavily used by the NCAA Selection Committee to assess tournament resumes. NET evaluates teams using factors such as game results, strength of schedule, scoring margin, and efficiency, while WAB measures how a team performs relative to what a “bubble” team would be expected to do against the same opponents.
South Carolina’s fall to No. 4 in NET reflects the Oklahoma loss more than the Vanderbilt win, as road losses against quality opponents tend to impact efficiency-based metrics. Still, remaining inside the top five keeps the Gamecocks firmly in elite territory.
Why the Drop Isn’t a Red Flag
Despite the slide, South Carolina remains positioned strongly for postseason success. The Gamecocks continue to stack high-quality wins, maintain one of the nation’s toughest schedules, and show the ability to correct course quickly after adversity.
More importantly, the response against Vanderbilt showcased the team’s ceiling — offensive explosiveness, defensive intensity when locked in, and depth that few programs can match. Those traits matter just as much as raw ranking numbers when March approaches.
What Comes Next
With rankings tightening and daily updates reshaping the NET landscape, every game moving forward carries added importance. South Carolina’s focus will be on consistency — limiting lapses like the Oklahoma game while sustaining the level of execution displayed against Vanderbilt.
For now, the message is clear: the Gamecocks may have slipped slightly in the polls, but they remain very much in the national title conversation, with ample opportunities ahead to climb right back to the top.
In a season where margins are razor-thin, South Carolina’s ability to respond — not just react — continues to define who they are.
