How SEC media predict South Carolina women’s basketball to finish in 2023-24
South Carolina women’s basketball was picked to finish second in the SEC by league media, it was announced Tuesday.
The selection ends a four-year streak of media favoring the Gamecocks to win the conference. In 2018 they predicted USC would finish second.
The reigning national champion LSU Tigers top the preseason poll. They return stars in Final Four MVP Angel Reese and sophomore guard Flau’jae Johnson. Coach Kim Mulkey also reloaded with highly touted firepower from the transfer portal -- Hailey Van Lith (Louisville) and Aneesah Morrow (DePaul) — as well as the recruiting trail — with the No. 1 recruiting class in the country in McDonald’s All-Americans Mikaylah Williams, Aaliyah Del Rosario and Angelica Velez. The Gamecocks and Tigers play in Baton Rouge on Jan. 25.
Earlier Tuesday the Gamecocks were named the No. 6 team in the Associated Press preseason poll and No. 4 in the USA Today preseason poll. South Carolina returns six 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.
Cardoso was the only player to be named to a preseason All-SEC team, earning a first-team nod.
MiLaysia Fulwiley — Keenan High grad and No. 13 recruit in espnW’s top 100 player rankings — 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 also brought in two transfers: 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.
2023-24 SEC preseason media poll
1. LSU
2. South Carolina
3. Tennessee
4. Ole Miss
5. Mississippi State
6. Arkansas
7. Georgia
8. Texas A&M
9. Alabama
10. Florida
11. Missouri
12. Auburn
13. Kentucky
14. Vanderbilt
SEC preseason Player of the Year
Angel Reese, LSU
Preseason All-SEC first team
Flau’jae Jonson, LSU
Angel Reese, LSU
Hailey Van Lith, LSU
Kamilla Cardoso, South Carolina
Rickea Jackson, Tennessee
Preseason All-SEC second team
Aneesah Morrow, LSU
Madison Scott, Ole Miss
Jessika Carter, Mississippi State
Jewel Spear, Tennessee
Aicha Coulibaly, Texas A&M
Jordyn Cambridge, Vanderbilt
This story was originally published October 17, 2023 at 3:01 PM.
