Who Could Challenge Dawn Staley & South Carolina's Women’s Basketball Team Next Season?

[@Bigballer-r7d]

I think Uconn will be a tough challenge for the Gamecock with thier roster and the freshman class they have coming in

[@philipwhatley6742]

If UConn stays healthy, Texas and USC. UConn easily had 40pt and 20rebounds sitting in sweats spread out across multiple players.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

UConn certainly has the talent to get back to the Final Four and be a contender, but health has got to be there.

[@wordnerd2005]

No team poses a legitimate threat to the ladies. They will be heavy favorites everytime they take the court. Always chance of an upset. They will probably be better next year.

[@ALoveSupreme65]

Watched a good amount of Texas last year (mostly for Madison Booker- who is great) and I agree it will be interesting to see them match up with South Carolina. I still believe SC is better but the SEC will be even more competitive than last year imo and that’s crazy to think about.

[@Sydney12997]

Yeah, I’m not a Texas or South Carolina but it’s going to be exciting.

[@nataliejordan5179]

UConn n USC will be top contenders.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

I think the top group will go beyond that, but Carolina will certainly be at the top, and UConn (barring injuries) should be as well.

[@waltdarr5735]

Hungry they will not only repeat but will go undefeated again!I don't see anyone beating them next year!I hope im right and i believe i am! Be safe my friends peace out and..... Go Gamecocks Go Ride Gamecocks Ride! Hello from MO!

[@Ransah79]

Three things: How did the freshmen do, How did the bench perform and How many are they losing to the draft? With these, I think South Carolina is in a great position...This is from someone outside looking in!

[@waltdarr5735]

The thing is Andrew.....It all boils down to the way the Ladies decides to play next year!If they stay humble and hungry a

[@jon00298]

Those three teams, based on returning players, probably aren't bad choices. They should all be Sweet 16 teams again next year and after that anything can happen. I have no idea what kind of team Kim Mulkey will be putting together. She's obviously got to hit the portal hard to fill the roster back in. I expect a Mulkey team to always be competitive if not necessarily a contender. But I think it's UConn that stands the best chance, if they can shake that injury bug. Geno is always going to have his team ready to go, and it's been amazing what he's done despite all the injuries these past several seasons. So much is going to depend on who transfers, who decides to play a 5th "covid" season, etc. Oregon State could be a surprise contender...if the whole "the PAC is no more" thing doesn't decimate their team. But to me, it all comes down to the SC ladies and the work they put in this off season. They are the team to beat, full stop. The only unknown right now is who will be the fourth big to go along with Watkins, Kitts, and Feagin. Could be either Edwards or Tac, but it could be a lot to ask of either freshman and Tac's health status is a big unknown. Walker regressed this past season and probably can't be counted on to fill that role. And while it is not required to have a true center, it could be a weakness against teams that do have a true center on the court. But that is it as far as question marks for the Gamecocks next season. The "challenge" will only be on deciding who starts. Loved Watkins progression this year, hopefully that continues. Either way, she's likely starting. Hopefully Kitts can continue to put on some good muscle, and also hustle a little more when it comes to fighting for rebounds. Getting pushed around at times down low was really her only weakness this season. But then there's Feagin who made a lot of progress this season. She will push both Watkins and Kitts for that starting spot. The bigger challenge will be deciding who starts among Hall, Paopao, Fulwiley, and T Johnson. I'll be shocked if Fulwiley isn't starting. She's got that competitive drive and was the best guard on the team through the SEC tournament. It was only her freshman mistakes that kept her from being the best guard over the regular season and into the NCAA tournament. And if Tessa is going to play like she did in the NCAA tourney, how does she not earn a starting role? Hall and Paopao have their work cut out for them if they want to keep those two as part of the bench rotation. The luxury will be having a now seasoned junior PG in Raven. She embraced that leadership role over the course of the season and is only going to be better at it next year. Must be nice for Dawn to have her biggest challenge being figuring out who starts on an undefeated national championship team that returns nearly everybody.

[@Sydney12997]

Pao Pao was a three pointer machine. I would be surprised if she doesn’t start. 🔥

[@earlismarks7108]

The problem for others is the depth of SC in the 4th qt they are killer...and the deeper you go into the tournament the more a team wears down but SC just rolls on with their size and depth, they just flat out overwhelmed Iowa. Now SC has Edwards omg...Tac will play minutes...the depth once again is crazy...next season should be great for wbb all around the country. I agree, UCLA and Notre Dame have a shot just as SC does though SC does seem to have the best shot voiding injury and misfortune, heck Uconn could be right there playing in the big 8 ready to move on, time will tell.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

Big reason why Carolina won it all and went 38-0 this season. They had legitimately 9 high-level starters on their roster, just so happened that four of them had to rotate in.

[@fredrickwilliams7284]

All challenges are worth considering we’re not invincible not overlooking no one! Period.

[@oscarhamtig9785]

I would not be suprised on a FourPeat

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

Would be incredible!

[@jaredholmes3336]

While everyone is giving praise. Don't count out Kim Mulkey, whom in year two won a natty with 9 transfers. Year 3, she lost Smith and Poole which hurt their depth. She doesn't have 7 total "chips" for nothing. Not to mention to win a natty in year 2 in rebuild mode. Don't ever count them out since they got bounced in elite 8. Dangerous coach after not making the Final 4. She knows how to adjust

[@kennethknotts3515]

Just tell the NCAA to send forthwith A MIGHTY BIG TEAM cause it's gonna take that to bring down the Gamecocks when they're on top of their game. Coach Staley has already sent out an OPEN INVITATION to the Gamecocks NCAA Tournament and they were all returned stamped, Return To Sender, Address Unknown...meaning there ain't a team in Women's College Hoops that's got the backbone to call USC!

[@ReadR00ster1]

UConn might be as good as or even better than us next year depends on how healthy they are. So. Cal WILL be very improved even without any help from the transfer portal which I think they will get. Texas will be a contender if they add an an elite scorer like a Haley Van Lith to their roster. LSU will still be very good if they can hang on to Morrow and get a point guard like Deja Kelly and another good rebounder like Poffenberger. What gives the Gamecocks the advantage though is experience and chemistry right off the bat. That is really what is going to be tough to beat.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

UConn certainly has the talent on paper, but they do have to be available. Crazy that they could have three No. 1 overall recruits on the roster next season. So Cal' I think could be REALLY dangerous. Just think they're a bit guard-heavy and I haven't watched enough of Gottlieb to get an idea of how much of their success is Watkins vs. her X's and O's. LSU I didn't include because they have only one Top 100 recruit coming in and PG is a big question mark for them (massive screwup on the coaching staff's part). Del Rosario I think can fill in nicely for Reese at the five, but don't know if she'll unlock her full potential during her sophomore campaign.

[@thekcsugethe_kc_suge7930]

I’d put Oregon State in that category. Young team with experience coming back

[@user-xi9iw1nc1x]

NC, State UConn, USC UCONNUCLA Notre Dame

[@earlismarks7108]

Hanna Hildalgo is the truth...whew.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

The fact the sport gets three more years of her, Watkins ,and Fulwiley is just ludicrous 🤣

[@paulpichey5876]

I AGREE WITH YOU ANDREW

[@earlismarks7108]

I agree Betts is nice...so glad she is healthy...

[@bigred0079]

SC is loaded and lead by the most unassuming star Tessa Johnson she's elite, but Sarah Strong is the most complete high school player I've ever seen and many will marvel at her basketball IQ, along with Paige and Fudd uconn gonna be a tough out...............I'm leaning uconn...

[@Bigballer-r7d]

Have you seen Joyce Edwards play?

[@bigred0079]

@@Bigballer-r7d yeah she's headed to SC a stud she's ranked #3 in the country.....

[@kenichitamagusuku3194]

Anyone in SEC, especially TEXAS, LSU, OKLAHOMA, ALABAMA and OLE MISS

[@Sydney12997]

Do you think SC can beat Texas next year?

[@homeranderson3691]

Connecticut will be the most serious threat.

[@Sydney12997]

I really hope SC beats Texas

[@LaJuneGotOils]

If ND beat Oregon St, they would have moved on to play SC and not UCLA.

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

Right. Must’ve misspoke…

[@jeffreyhunter7221]

What about UConn?

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

I strongly considered including UConn, but health has been such an issue over the last few years that we have to see if the roster can remain intact before we declare they are a challenger to South Carolina.

[@kountrynotary7445]

Regarding "UCLA or Notre Dame"...either or; neither, nor 🥱

[@rickyyoung2747]

They played better when Cardoso was away playing for her country what make people think that Texas can beat them North Carolina State dog them out lol😂

[@LockedOnGamecocks]

North Carolina State didn’t have to deal with Rori Harmon and James had her best perimeter-shooting night of her college career. Carolina played mostly outmatched teams when they didn’t have Cardoso. You have to take that into account as well.