The two major WBB preseason Top 25s are out: Where South Carolina ranks
South Carolina women’s basketball is the No. 6 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 released Tuesday. It’s the first time the Gamecocks haven’t been ranked No. 1 to start the season since 2019.
Reigning national champion LSU, UConn, Iowa, UCLA and Utah occupy the top five spots, in that order.
USC was the wire-to-wire No. 1 team in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The Gamecocks lost one game last year to the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Final Four after completing the first undefeated regular season in program history. South Carolina also won the SEC Tournament and the league’s regular season title.
The Gamecocks ranked fourth in the USA Today preseason poll also released Tuesday, behind LSU, UConn and Iowa.
USC has six returning players: Raven Johnson (who started three game last year, more than any other returner), Ashlyn Watkins, Kamilla Cardoso, Sania Feagin, Bree Hall and Chloe Kitts.
Keenan High grad and No. 13 recruit in espnW’s top 100 player rankings MiLaysia Fulwiley headlines the freshman class, which also includes No. 17 Kitts — who reclassified to 2022 and came to USC last fall — No. 25 Tessa Johnson and No. 40 Sahnya Jah.
The Gamecocks brought in two transfers as well: sharpshooter Te-Hina Paopao from Oregon (who had a 42.4% three-point percentage last season) and 6-foot-5 center Sakima Walker from Northwest Florida State College (the 2023 NJCAA DI Player of the Year).
South Carolina hosts Rutgers at Colonial Life Arena at 1 p.m. Sunday in an exhibition game, then travels to Paris to face No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 6 in the season opener.
More on the AP poll
LSU’s No. 1 ranking was the first in program history.
“We appreciate the recognition of being the No. 1 ranked team going into the season and it is something we will embrace,” LSU coach Kim Mulkey told The Associated Press. “A ranking doesn’t win championships, but it brings great awareness to our program and our school. We want to be ranked No. 1 at the end of the season.”
Stanford’s preseason spot at No. 15 is that program’s lowest mark since a No. 16 ranking during the 2015 season.
Nine of South Carolina’s regular season opponents are ranked in this year’s poll: Notre Dame, Maryland, North Carolina, Utah, Mississippi State, LSU, Ole Miss, UConn and Tennessee.
2023-24 Preseason AP Poll
1. LSU
2. UConn
3. Iowa
4. UCLA
5. Utah
6. South Carolina
7. Ohio State
8. Virginia Tech
9. Indiana
10. Notre Dame
11. Tennessee
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas
14. Maryland
15. Stanford
16. UNC
17. Louisville
18. Florida State
19. Baylor
20. Colorado
21. Southern California
22. Creighton
23. Illinois
24. Washington State
25. Mississippi State
2023-24 Preseason USA Today Poll
1. LSU
2. UConn
3. Iowa
4. South Carolina
5. Virginia Tech
6. Ohio State
7. Utah
8. UCLA
9. Indiana
10. Notre Dame
11. Maryland
12. Tennessee
13. Stanford
14. Texas
15. Louisville
16. Ole Miss
17. UNC
18. Colorado
19. Duke
20. Baylor
21. Southern California
22. Florida State
23. Oklahoma
23. Creighton
25. Michigan
25. Miami (FL)
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 12:01 PM.
