The SEC released its coaches’ preseason picks on Wednesday, and for the first time in years, South Carolina women’s basketball isn’t sitting atop the list. Despite its dynasty-like run, the Gamecocks were selected to finish second in the conference standings — behind the Texas Longhorns, who claimed the top spot.
Here’s the full preseason order of finish:
- Texas Longhorns
- South Carolina Gamecocks
- LSU Tigers
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Florida Gators
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Missouri Tigers
- Auburn Tigers
- Arkansas Razorbacks
It’s a rare preseason snub for a program that has won nine of the last 12 SEC regular-season titles and nine of the last 11 SEC Tournaments. South Carolina also shared last year’s SEC crown with Texas but dominated the Longhorns in both the SEC Tournament Championship Game and the NCAA Final Four.
Interestingly, the SEC media poll that was released just hours after Chloe Kitts’ ACL injury had South Carolina and Texas tied as preseason favorites — showing how close the margin is between the two powerhouses.
As for individual honors, two Gamecocks earned spots on the Preseason All-SEC First Team:
- Joyce Edwards, the sophomore forward who led USC in scoring last season (12.7 points per game), and
- Ta’Niya Latson, the high-scoring senior transfer from Florida State who averaged 25.2 points per game last year.
Edwards earned Freshman All-American and First-Team All-SEC recognition in 2024 and is now expected to play an even bigger role with both Kitts and Ashlyn Watkins sidelined due to knee injuries.
Latson, meanwhile, joins South Carolina after an explosive run at Florida State where she was an All-American and the nation’s leading scorer. She has scored over 21 points per game for three consecutive seasons and is widely regarded as one of the top transfer portal pickups in the country.
Elsewhere, former Gamecocks Talaysia Cooper (Tennessee) and MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) also earned preseason All-SEC recognition — Cooper on the first team and Fulwiley on the second.
The SEC’s Preseason Player of the Year honor went to Madison Booker of Texas, who also took home last season’s league MVP award.
Preseason All-SEC Teams
First Team
- Flau’Jae Johnson, LSU
- Mikaylah Williams, LSU
- Raegan Beers, Oklahoma
- Joyce Edwards, South Carolina
- Ta’Niya Latson, South Carolina
- Talaysia Cooper, Tennessee
- Madison Booker, Texas
- Mikayla Blakes, Vanderbilt
Second Team
- Essence Cody, Alabama
- Liv McGill, Florida
- Teonni Key, Kentucky
- Clara Strack, Kentucky
- Cotie McMahon, Ole Miss
- Payton Verhulst, Oklahoma
- MiLaysia Fulwiley, LSU
- Rori Harmon, Texas
South Carolina may have slipped to No. 2 in the preseason polls — but with a reloaded roster and proven championship pedigree, don’t be surprised if Dawn Staley’s squad uses that as motivation to reclaim the SEC crown.
