Live from Colonial Life Arena: South Carolina vs. UConn—A Rivalry That Defines Women’s College Basketball
Every time South Carolina and UConn step onto the court, the spotlight of the women’s college basketball world follows. And for good reason—these two powerhouse programs have dominated the sport, accounting for seven of the last 11 national titles. Since 2007, at least one of them has made it to the Final Four every single season.
Their latest showdown on February 4 was no exception. ESPN’s College GameDay made the matchup its centerpiece, broadcasting a special two-hour preview ahead of tipoff. Social media was flooded with promotional content, reinforcing the sheer magnitude of the game.
Dawn Staley, South Carolina’s head coach, acknowledged the significance of this national attention.
“I think it speaks to where we are in our game. It seems like, if you’re watching the game, every other commercial is us and UConn,” Staley remarked. “It costs money to actually put those promotions on television. They wouldn’t do it if they didn’t get a return on their investment.”
The excitement was tangible. A sellout crowd of 18,000 packed into Colonial Life Arena, with fans arriving as early as 10 a.m.—three hours before tipoff. However, the night belonged to UConn, who stormed to an 87-58 victory.
Yet, for Staley, the impact of these matchups goes beyond just the game itself.
“You have to have them,” she emphasized. “I think they push the game forward.”
A Rivalry That’s Shaped the Sport
This rivalry is relatively young, with South Carolina and UConn first clashing on December 17, 2007—a game that ended in a dominant 97-39 UConn win. Since the 2014-15 season, the two teams have met annually, creating one of the most highly anticipated matchups in the sport.
Geno Auriemma, UConn’s legendary head coach, knows exactly how much this battle means to the game’s growth.
“This is a great rivalry. It became a headache for me when they started winning back home, but it became a great rivalry. I think it’s one of the premier games in college basketball right now,” Auriemma admitted. “It means a lot to a lot of people, which is great.”
The Bigger Picture: Growth of Women’s College Basketball
While South Carolina-UConn remains a premier fixture, Auriemma pointed out that the overall landscape of women’s college basketball has evolved, with more teams driving the sport’s rapid growth.
Just last week, South Carolina’s showdown with Texas, which took place ahead of Super Bowl LIV, became the most-watched women’s college basketball game of the season, drawing 1 million viewers and peaking at 1.3 million on ESPN.
The sport’s momentum has been undeniable, particularly in recent NCAA National Championship games. The 2023 title matchup between LSU and Iowa shattered records, drawing 12.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched women’s college basketball game ever. The following year, South Carolina’s battle with Iowa rewrote history again, as 18.9 million viewers tuned in—more than any men’s or women’s college basketball game in ESPN’s live broadcasting history.
Auriemma believes these numbers are only the beginning.
“The Texas-South Carolina game was a big game. Everyone was paying attention to that. The LSU-South Carolina game was a big game. The UCLA-South Carolina game was a big game. Connecticut-Tennessee, Connecticut-Notre Dame, Connecticut-USC—all big games,” Auriemma said. “There are more big games now than there used to be, and they involve more than just UConn and South Carolina.”
As the women’s game continues its meteoric rise, matchups like South Carolina-UConn remain at the heart of its growth, capturing the imagination of fans and proving that the future of the sport is brighter than ever.
