Thanksgiving may still be weeks away, but women’s college basketball already has a marquee matchup on the schedule. The No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks will travel to face third‑ranked USC on Sunday, a contest that will be the third meeting between the two programs in the past year.
Recent history of the rivalry
South Carolina has won the first two encounters, including a dramatic second‑round victory in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Gamecocks have also posted dominant performances against other top‑25 foes, beating Maryland and North Carolina in their opening games. The win over the Tar Heels was a 45‑point margin, the largest margin the team has ever posted against a ranked opponent, according to ESPN.
Key players returning
USC will be bolstered by the return of wing JuJu Watkins, who missed the entire previous season while recovering from an ACL tear suffered 20 months ago. In her limited action this season, Watkins has shown she is back to form, averaging 26.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 steals in easy wins over UNLV and Utah State.
South Carolina also welcomes back forward Chloe Kitts, who similarly sat out last season with an ACL injury. Kitts recorded a double‑double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the Gamecocks’ victory over North Carolina, her first such performance since a 15‑point, 11‑rebound effort against Maryland in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
Other notable games this weekend
Sunday’s slate includes several other high‑profile matchups. No. 8 Vanderbilt and guard Mikayla Blakes will travel to face 10th‑ranked Iowa, giving the Commodores a chance to test themselves in a hostile road environment before the SEC schedule intensifies in the new year. Vanderbilt enters the game 3‑0, having scored more than 100 points in each of its first three contests.
In the Big East, No. 4 UConn will play at seventh‑ranked Louisville. The Cardinals have been dominant in their three victories so far, while the Huskies are looking to rebound from a rare November loss at Michigan.
Ivy League action
The Ivy League also has a busy week. Columbia will host No. 2 Michigan on Thursday, the highest‑ranked opponent ever to visit the Lions’ home court. Princeton faces Villanova at home on Tuesday before heading west to meet Pepperdine and No. 10 UCLA. Penn will host No. 23 North Carolina on Saturday.
Honoring a legend
In a separate announcement, the U.S. Postal Service revealed that former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt will be honored with a commemorative stamp in 2027, joining baseball great Willie Mays. The stamp features a portrait of Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight NCAA championships and 1,098 career victories before her untimely death at age 64 in 2016.
Summitt’s legacy continues through the Pat Summitt Foundation, which she founded after retiring in 2012 following a diagnosis of early‑onset Alzheimer’s‑type dementia.
Looking ahead
With the Gamecocks and Trojans set to clash again, fans can expect another intense battle that will shape the early narrative of the women’s basketball season. Both teams have demonstrated depth and resilience, and the return of key players adds an extra layer of excitement to what promises to be a memorable showdown.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
