The SEC released its 2025-26 preseason women’s basketball predictions on Monday, and as expected, South Carolina remains the team to beat. The Gamecocks were picked to win the SEC title once again, while stars Joyce Edwards and Ta’Niya Latson were both recognized with All-SEC honors — Edwards earning First-Team and Latson Second-Team recognition.
The official media predictions mirror what most observers have come to expect: South Carolina continues to dominate the league. As one writer noted, “South Carolina has won four consecutive regular-season titles, nine of the last 12, gone undefeated in the conference three times in the last six seasons, and hasn’t finished lower than second since 2013. Don’t overthink it.”
Here’s how the predicted order of finish stacks up:
1. South Carolina
2. Texas
3. Oklahoma
4. LSU
5. Tennessee
6. Ole Miss
7. Vanderbilt
8. Kentucky
9. Mississippi State
10. Georgia
11. Florida
12. Alabama
13. Texas A&M
14. Missouri
15. Auburn
16. Arkansas
While the top spot feels certain, the rest of the league could be a toss-up. “Last season, just two games separated third place from seventh place,” the report noted, “so the final standings came down to a lot of tiebreakers.”
Despite the recent injury to Chloe Kitts, who will miss the season with a torn ACL, the Gamecocks are still viewed as favorites to claim the SEC crown. The analyst admitted to adjusting his personal All-SEC picks, adding a replacement for Kitts while keeping South Carolina at No. 1.
🏀 Individual Honors
Player of the Year: Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)
“Last season, Latson led the nation in scoring while playing at a P4 program,” the analyst wrote. “She did it in near anonymity at Florida State, but that won’t be the case this season.”
Defensive Player of the Year: Clara Strack (Kentucky)
The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year averaged 9.7 rebounds and 2.4 blocks last season, ranking second and first in the conference.
Freshman of the Year: Aaliyah Chavez (Oklahoma)
The No. 1 recruit in her class is expected to thrive in Oklahoma’s fast-paced offense.
💥 Projected All-SEC Teams
First Team
- Ta’Niya Latson (South Carolina)
- Madison Booker (Texas)
- Flau’jae Johnson (LSU)
- Raegan Beers (Oklahoma)
- Joyce Edwards (South Carolina)
Second Team
- Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt)
- Chloe Kitts (South Carolina) / Cotie McMahon (Ole Miss)
- Mikaylah Williams (LSU)
- Clara Strack (Kentucky)
- Talaysia Cooper (Tennessee)
With multiple Gamecocks earning preseason honors, the message is clear — Dawn Staley’s powerhouse isn’t slowing down anytime soon, even with key injuries.
As the analyst summed it up:
“There’s so much talent in this league that it feels impossible to narrow it down to just two teams. If I left your favorite player off, you’re right — she should have been here.”
