The Nancy Wilson Era and Metro Conference Dominance (1984–1991)
Building a Conference Power
In 1984, South Carolina hired Nancy Wilson as head coach following a successful stint at the College of Charleston. Wilson brought immediate structure and long-term vision to the program. In her first season (1984–85), the team went 18–10. South Carolina joined the Metro Conference in 1983–84 (initially as independents, then full members), providing the program with consistent regional competition and access to automatic NCAA bids.
From the mid-1980s through the early 1990s, South Carolina emerged as one of the top programs in the Metro. Wilson’s teams were known for their disciplined, physical style and strong defensive principles. Between 1986 and 1991, the Gamecocks won five Metro Conference regular season titles (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991) and three Metro Tournament championships (1986, 1988, 1989).
NCAA Tournament Appearances
South Carolina made its NCAA Tournament debut in 1986 as a #7 seed but lost to Middle Tennessee State in the first round, 78–77. In 1988, the Gamecocks reached the second round of the tournament as a #8 seed. The 1988 team finished 23–11 and defeated Alabama before losing to eventual Elite Eight team Texas, 77–58. In 1989, they returned to the tournament as a #6 seed but were upset by #11 seeded Tennessee tech in the opening round.
In the 1990 NCAA tournament, the Gamecocks earned a #5 seed and managed to defeat Bowling Green and Northwestern in the first two rounds to advance to their second ever Sweet Sixteen. However, they ultimately lost to #1 seed Washington, 73–61. The 1989-90 team finished with a 24–9 overall record, finishing 16th in the Coaches poll.
Although they failed to break through to the Sweet Sixteen during Wilson’s peak Metro years, the program was considered one of the strongest among non-power conferences. The team regularly won 20+ games, and Colonial Life Arena (then Carolina Coliseum) began drawing respectable crowds for marquee matchups.
Key Players
Among the standout players of the Metro era was Sheila Foster, a 6’2” forward who became South Carolina’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder at the time of her graduation. Foster was a three-time All-Metro selection and finished her career with over 2,000 points and 1,400 rebounds. Another significant figure was Brenda Biggerstaff, who earned all-conference honors in the mid-1980s and helped anchor the team during its early tournament appearances.
Struggles in the Southeastern Conference (1991–1997)
SEC Transition and Increased Competition
In 1991, South Carolina left the Metro Conference and joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which had rapidly established itself as the most competitive women’s basketball league in the country. The SEC had added women’s basketball as a sponsored sport in 1982–83 and was home to national powers such as Tennessee under Pat Summitt, Georgia under Andy Landers, and Auburn under Joe Ciampi.
The transition proved difficult. In their first five years in the SEC (1991–96), the Gamecocks never finished higher than seventh in the league standings and posted a cumulative SEC record of 12–43. The increased level of competition, combined with a recruiting disadvantage compared to more established programs, led to a marked decline in performance.
Shannon Johnson Era
Despite the team’s struggles, the mid-1990s saw the emergence of one of the most talented players in program history: Shannon “Pee Wee” Johnson. A dynamic point guard from Hartsville, South Carolina, Johnson played from 1992 to 1996 and became a four-time All-SEC selection. She scored over 2,000 career points and later represented the United States at the 2004 Olympics.
Johnson’s individual brilliance helped the Gamecocks remain competitive in individual games but could not lift the team into national contention. South Carolina failed to make an NCAA Tournament appearance during her career, and Wilson’s inability to adjust to the demands of the SEC eventually led to her departure following the 1996–97 season.
Nancy Wilson finished her South Carolina tenure with a 231–149 record across 13 seasons. While she left as the winningest coach in program history at the time, her legacy was shaped largely by Metro Conference dominance rather than national success.
The Susan Walvius Era (1997–2008)
Initial Rebuilding and Growing Pains
In 1997, South Carolina hired Susan Walvius, who had previously coached at VCU. Walvius inherited a team in transition and immediately began implementing a defense-focused system rather than a scrappy offensive based system. Her first four seasons (1997–2001) were marked by losing records and minimal postseason success, though her recruiting efforts laid the groundwork for future improvement.
Among the key players recruited during this time was Jocelyn Penn, a versatile forward who would become one of the most prolific scorers in school history. Penn’s arrival, along with the development of point guard Cristina Ciocan and forward Shaunzinski Gortman, would catalyze the program’s most successful stretch in two decades.
2001–02: Breakthrough Season
The 2001–02 team remains one of the most successful in program history. South Carolina finished 25–7 overall, 10–4 in SEC play (third place), and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks defeated Wisconsin–Green Bay, Texas Tech, and Louisiana Tech to reach the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.
They fell to eventual national runner-up Duke, 77–68, but the run marked a high point for Walvius’s tenure. Jocelyn Penn averaged 24.8 points per game and was named a third-team All-American. The team ended the season ranked in 13th in the Coaches poll nationally.
Brief Success and Plateau
South Carolina returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 but was eliminated in the second round by Penn State. Penn graduated as the program’s second all-time leading scorer, and the Gamecocks struggled to maintain momentum. Despite the emergence of international standouts like Ilona Burgrova and Iva Sliskovic, South Carolina failed to reach the NCAA Tournament again under Walvius.
The team made a WNIT second round appearance in 2006 but posted consecutive subpar seasons in 2006–07 and 2007–08. Walvius resigned in April 2008 with a 165–160 record across 11 seasons. Her tenure was defined by the Elite Eight run but marred by inconsistency and underperformance in SEC play (a 51–103 record).
Dawn Staley Era (2008–present)
The most transformative period in South Carolina women’s basketball history began with the hiring of Dawn Staley in May 2008. A Hall of Fame point guard and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Staley arrived in Columbia after eight successful seasons at Temple, where she had led the Owls to six NCAA Tournament appearances. Tasked with rebuilding a program that had struggled for relevance in the SEC and had not made the NCAA Tournament since 2003, Staley faced a significant challenge. Over the next decade and a half, she would build South Carolina into one of the sport’s most consistent national powers, highlighted by three national championships, multiple Final Four appearances, and a steady presence at or near the top of national rankings in women's college basketball.
Early Rebuilding (2008–2011)
Staley’s first three seasons were characterized by limited roster depth and growing pains. The 2008–09 Gamecocks finished 10–18 overall and tied for 11th in the SEC, winning just two conference games. The team ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, and was frequently overmatched by more established programs.
Modest improvement came over the next two seasons, with South Carolina finishing 14–15 in 2009–10 and reaching the WNIT quarterfinals in 2010–11. Guards La’Keisha Sutton and Leasia Walker were among the team’s few consistent offensive options during this period. Staley began to establish a culture of defensive toughness and disciplined half-court play, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for future recruiting successes and offensive prowess.
NCAA Tournament Return and Rise to SEC Contention (2011–2014)
South Carolina returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011–12 for the first time since 2003, finishing 25–10 and reaching the Sweet Sixteen before losing to #1 seed Stanford 76–60. The team was led by a young core including Tiffany Mitchell, Aleighsa Welch, and Khadijah Sessions. Staley’s recruiting began to show results, particularly in the frontcourt, where players like Welch and Asia Dozier provided interior depth and offensive coordination.
By the 2013–14 season, South Carolina had emerged as a legitimate SEC title contender. The Gamecocks won their first SEC regular season championship with a 14–2 league record and entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed for the first time. Mitchell was named SEC Player of the Year, averaging 15.5 points per game, and freshman center Alaina Coates earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors. The team reached the Sweet Sixteen before falling to North Carolina, 65–58.
Final Four Breakthrough and Arrival of A’ja Wilson (2014–2017)
The 2014–15 season marked a significant breakthrough. South Carolina finished 34–3, won both the SEC regular season and tournament championships, and advanced to the program’s first Final Four. Much of the team’s success was attributed to the maturation of Mitchell, Welch, and Coates, as well as the arrival of 6’5” freshman forward A’ja Wilson, the top-ranked recruit in the nation and a Columbia native. Wilson averaged 13.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and was named the National Freshman of the Year. The Gamecocks were narrowly defeated in the National Semifinals by Notre Dame, 66–65, after a potential game-winning shot was off the mark in the final seconds.
In 2015–16, South Carolina went 33–2 and posted its first undefeated SEC season (16–0), winning both the regular season and tournament championships. Wilson, now a sophomore, averaged 16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds and earned SEC Player of the Year honors. Despite high expectations and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, the Gamecocks were upset in the Sweet Sixteen by eventual national runner-up Syracuse, ending their season earlier than anticipated.
The 2016–17 campaign was the most successful in program history to that point. With Wilson now a junior, and, joined by high-impact transfers Allisha Gray (North Carolina) and Kaela Davis (Georgia Tech), South Carolina again swept the SEC titles and entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed. The Gamecocks advanced past Quinnipiac in the Sweet Sixteen and Florida State in the Elite Eight to reach their second Final Four. They then defeated Stanford 62–53 in the National Semifinals and Mississippi State in the national championship game, 67–55, to capture the programs first ever national title. Wilson was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, and Staley became the second Black woman to coach a national championship team in Division I women’s basketball history. The team finished with a 33–4 overall season record.
Transition and the Arrival of a New Core (2017–2020)
Wilson returned for her senior season in 2017–18 and delivered the best individual campaign in program history to that point, averaging 22.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks per game. She won every major national player of the year award, including the Naismith, Wooden, and AP honors. South Carolina finished 29–7 and managed reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament, but was eliminated by UConn in what would be Wilson’s final collegiate game.
Following Wilson’s graduation and the departure of multiple veterans, the Gamecocks experienced a brief regression in 2018–19. They finished 23–10, placed second in the SEC, and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen as a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament before a lopsided loss to eventual champion Baylor, 93–68. The season was largely viewed as a transitional period between the Wilson era and the team's current era of national dominance.
The program’s next major leap came with the arrival of the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class in 2019. That class included freshman center Aliyah Boston, guards Zia Cooke and Brea Beal, forward Laeticia Amihere, and walk-on Olivia Thompson. Boston made an immediate impact, averaging 12.5 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman. She became the first player in NCAA history to record a triple-double in her debut and was named the national Freshman of the Year.
The 2019–20 Gamecocks finished 32–1 and went undefeated in SEC play (16–0), winning both the conference and regular season titles. South Carolina entered the NCAA Tournament ranked No. 1 in the AP poll and riding a 26–game winning streak. However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the tournament, denying the team a chance at a second national title. However, they were the consensus No. 1 team in the final rankings and hence were named "mythical national champions".
Consistent National Contention (2020–2023)
South Carolina remained one of the top teams in the country in 2020–21, finishing 26–5 and advancing to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament. The Gamecocks were eliminated in the National Semifinals by eventual champion Stanford, 66–65, after missing two potential game-winning shots in the final seconds. Boston earned consensus first-team All-American honors and was named the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
The Gamecocks' 2021–22 season was one of the most dominant in modern women’s college basketball. South Carolina went 35–2, held the No. 1 ranking wire-to-wire all season, and defeated UConn 64–49 in the national championship game to capture their second national title. Boston averaged 16.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, recording 30 double-doubles and winning every major national player of the year award. Zia Cooke (10.7 PPG) and Destanni Henderson (11.5 PPG) provided perimeter scoring, while Brea Beal anchored the wing defensively. The Gamecocks led the nation in rebounds per game (47.4) and opponent field goal percentage (.324).
South Carolina returned most of its championship roster in 2022–23 and entered the NCAA Tournament undefeated. The Gamecocks extended their win streak to 42 games before falling to Iowa in the Final Four, 77–73. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark scored 41 points, and South Carolina’s drop coverage defensive scheme was heavily scrutinized postgame. Boston, Cooke, Beal, and Amihere all declared for the WNBA Draft after the season.
Undefeated Redemption (2023–24)
Despite losing all five starters in the 2023–24 season, South Carolina retooled quickly behind the emergence of junior point guard Raven Johnson, 6’7” center Kamilla Cardoso, and freshmen MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson. Transfers Te-Hina Paopao (Oregon) and Sakima Walker (Northwest Florida State) also joined the rotation. Fulwiley, in particular, drew national attention for her flashy ball-handling and elite shot-making.
The Gamecocks went 16–0 in SEC play, won both their conference regular season and tournament titles, and entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. They defeated Presbyterian, North Carolina, Indiana, and Oregon State to reach their 6th Final Four. In the National Semifinals, the Gamecocks handily defeated #3 seeded NC State, 78–59. In the national championship game, they defeated Iowa 87–75 in a rematch of the previous year’s Final Four. Cardoso was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player, and South Carolina completed its first undefeated season in program history (38–0) to capture its third national title.
