2017–18 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team

The 2017–18 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represented the University of South Carolina during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gamecocks, led by tenth year head coach Dawn Staley, played their home games at the Colonial Life Arena and were members of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 29–7, 12–4 in SEC play to finish in a tie for second place. They defeated Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi State to win the SEC Women's Tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Women's Tournament. They defeated North Carolina A&T and Virginia in the first and second rounds, Buffalo in the sweet sixteen before losing to Connecticut in the elite eight.

2017–18 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball
SEC Tournament champions
NCAA Tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 6
APNo. 7
2017–18 record29–7 (12–4 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaColonial Life Arena
2017–18 SEC women's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 4 Mississippi State16–0 1.000  37–2  .949
No. 7 South Carolina †12–4 .750  29–7  .806
No. 18 Georgia12–4 .750  26–7  .788
No. 12 Tennessee11–5 .688  25–8  .758
No. 17 Missouri11–5 .688  24–8  .750
No. 14 Texas A&M11–5 .688  26–10  .722
No. 24 LSU11–5 .688  19–10  .655
Alabama7–9 .438  20–14  .588
Kentucky6–10 .375  15–17  .469
Auburn5–11 .313  14–15  .483
Arkansas3–13 .188  13–18  .419
Florida3–13 .188  11–19  .367
Vanderbilt3–13 .188  7–24  .226
Ole Miss1–15 .063  12–19  .387
† 2018 SEC Tournament winner
As of April 1, 2018; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous Season

South Carolina finished the season 33-4 (14-2), winning the SEC Regular season, SEC Tournament Championship, and the NCAA National Championship. Heading into the NCAA tournament South Carolina was the #1 seed in the Stockton regional, where they defeated UNC Asheville, Arizona State, Quinnipiac, and Florida State, to win the Stockton region and get to the Final Four. In the Final Four, South Carolina defeated Stanford 62–53 to advance to the Championship game. On April 2, 2017, South Carolina defeated Mississippi State to win their first National Championship. A'ja Wilson won the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player award.

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightYearHometownNotes
Alaina Coates41C6'4"SeniorIrmo, SCGraduated/Declared to 2017 WNBA draft
Allisha Gray10G6'0"RS JuniorSandersville, GADeclared to 2017 WNBA draft
Kaela Davis3G6'2"RS JuniorSuwanee, GADeclared to 2017 WNBA draft
Araion Bradshaw12G5'6"FreshmanHyde Park, MATransferred to Dayton

Incoming transfers
NameNumberPos.HeightYearHometownPrevious School
Te'a Cooper2G5'8"SophomorePowder Springs, GATransferred from Tennessee. Will sit out a year due to NCAA rules.
Lindsey Spann11G5'6"RS SeniorLaurel, MDTransferred from Penn State. Eligible to play immediately since Spann graduated from Penn State University.

Recruits
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Elisia Grissett
W		 Durham, NC Hillside 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 97
Bianca Jackson
W		 Montgomery, AL Brewbaker Tech Magnet 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 96
LaDazhia Williams
G		 Bradenton, FL Lakewood Ranch 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) N/A  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals: N/A   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 96
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.

    Roster
    2017–18 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.#NameHeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
    G 0 Victoria Patrick 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) SoEdgewater Orlando, FL
    G 1 Bianca Cuevas-Moore 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) SrNazareth Regional Bronx, NY
    G 2 Te'a Cooper 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) RS SoMcEachern HS
    Tennessee    		 Powder Springs, GA
    G 4 Doniyah Cliney 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) JrMalcolm X Shabazz Newark, NJ
    G 10 Bianca Jackson 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) FrBrewbaker Tech Magnet Montgomery, AL
    G 11 Lindsey Spann 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) RS SrGood Counsel HS
    Penn State    		 Laurel, MD
    G 15 Tiffany Davis 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) RS JrWestbury Christian Houston, TX
    F 21 Mikiah Herbert Harrigan 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) SoFlanagan Pembroke Pines, FL
    F 22 A'ja Wilson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) SrHeathwood Hall Hopkins, SC
    C 23 LaDaazhia Williams 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) FrLakewood Ranch Bradenton, FL
    G 24 Lele Grissett 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) FrHillside Durham, NC
    F 35 Alexis Jennings 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) RS JrSparkman HS
    Kentucky    		 Madison, AL
    G 52 Tyasha Harris 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) SoHeritage Christian Noblesville, IN
    Head coach
    Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    Schedule

    [1]

    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Exhibition
    11/03/2017*
    7:00 pm    		 No. 4 Coker W 116–56 
    		Colonial Life Arena 
    Columbia, SC
    Regular season
    11/10/2017*
    6:30 pm    		 No. 4 Alabama State W 99–31  1–0
    		 Colonial Life Arena (13,723)
    Columbia, SC
    11/13/2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 4 at No. 15 Maryland W 94–86  2–0
    		 Xfinity Center (8,677)
    College Park, MD
    11/16/2017*
    7:00 pm    		 No. 4 at Clemson
    Rivalry    		 W 66–36  3–0
    		 Littlejohn Coliseum (1,589)
    Clemson, SC
    11/19/2017*
    3:00 pm    		 No. 4 Wofford W 94–60  4–0
    		 Colonial Life Arena (12,471)
    Columbia, SC
    11/24/2017*
    1:30 pm    		 No. 3 vs. Rutgers
    Gulf Coast Showcase Quarterfinals    		 W 78–68  5–0
    		 Germain Arena 
    Estero, FL
    11/25/2017*
    1:30 pm    		 No. 3 vs. St. John's
    Gulf Coast Showcase semifinals    		 W 76–58  6–0
    		 Germain Arena 
    Estero, FL
    11/26/2017*
    1:30 pm    		 No. 3 vs. No. 6 Notre Dame
    Gulf Coast Showcase championship    		 L 85–92  6–1
    		 Germain Arena 
    Estero, FL
    11/30/2017*
    7:00 pm    		 No. 5 Western Carolina W 101–43  7–1
    		 Colonial Life Arena (12,020)
    Columbia, SC
    12/03/2017*
    12:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 5 No. 14 Duke W 72–52  8–1
    		 Colonial Life Arena (13,054)
    Columbia, SC
    12/05/2017*
    7:00 pm    		 No. 5 College of Charleston W 69–43  9–1
    		 Colonial Life Arena (11,732)
    Columbia, SC
    12/17/2017*
    3:00 pm    		 No. 4 Savannah State W 99–38  10–1
    		 Colonial Life Arena (13,345)
    Columbia, SC
    12/21/2017*
    7:00 pm, ESPN3    		 No. 4 at Temple W 87–60  11–1
    		 Liacouras Center (3,185)
    Philadelphia, PA
    12/31/2017
    2:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 4 No. 22 Texas A&M W 61–59  12–1
    (1–0)    		 Colonial Life Arena (13,431)
    Columbia, SC
    01/04/2018
    7:00 pm    		 No. 4 at Ole Miss W 88–62  13–1
    (2–0)    		 The Pavilion at Ole Miss (1,018)
    Oxford, MS
    01/07/2018
    2:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 4 at No. 16 Missouri L 74–83  13–2
    (2–1)    		 Mizzou Arena (4,652)
    Columbia, MO
    01/11/2018
    7:00 pm    		 No. 9 Auburn W 71–63  14–2
    (3–1)    		 Colonial Life Arena (12,011)
    Columbia, SC
    01/14/2018
    1:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 9 No. 6 Tennessee L 70–86  14–3
    (3–2)    		 Colonial Life Arena (14,763)
    Columbia, SC
    01/18/2018
    8:00 pm    		 No. 10 at Vanderbilt W 95–82  15–3
    (4–2)    		 Memorial Gymnasium (2,231)
    Nashville, TN
    01/21/2018
    Noon, ESPNU    		 No. 10 at Kentucky W 81–64  16–3
    (5–2)    		 Rupp Arena (6,521)
    Lexington, KY
    01/25/2018
    6:30 pm, SECN    		 No. 9 Arkansas W 90–42  17–3
    (6–2)    		 Colonial Life Arena (12,844)
    Columbia, SC
    01/28/2018
    6:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 9 No. 11 Missouri W 64–54  18–3
    (7–2)    		 Colonial Life Arena (13,433)
    Columbia, SC
    02/01/2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 No. 7 No. 1 Connecticut L 58–83  18–4
    		 Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
    Columbia, SC
    02/05/2018
    7:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 7 at No. 2 Mississippi State L 53–67  18–5
    (7–3)    		 Humphrey Coliseum (10,794)
    Starkville, MS
    02/08/2018
    7:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 7 at Alabama W 79–66  19–5
    (8–3)    		 Coleman Coliseum (2,313)
    Tuscaloosa, AL
    02/11/2018
    1:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 7 Florida W 64–57  20–5
    (9–3)    		 Colonial Life Arena (15,385)
    Columbia, SC
    02/15/2018
    7:00 pm    		 No. 8 at No. 20 Georgia W 77–65  21–5
    (10–3)    		 Stegeman Coliseum (4,072)
    Athens, GA
    02/18/2018
    3:00 pm, SECN    		 No. 8 Kentucky W 81–63  22–5
    (11–3)    		 Colonial Life Arena (14,895)
    Columbia, SC
    02/22/2018
    6:30 pm, SECN    		 No. 7 No. 24 LSU W 57–48  23–5
    (12–3)    		 Colonial Life Arena (12,385)
    Columbia, SC
    02/25/2018
    4:00 pm, ESPN2    		 No. 7 at No. 15 Tennessee L 46–65  23–6
    (12–4)    		 Thompson–Boling Arena (13,058)
    Knoxville, TN
    SEC Women's Tournament
    03/02/2018
    7:00 pm, SECN    		 (2) No. 8 vs. (7) No. 12 Tennessee
    Quarterfinals    		 W 73–62  24–6
    		 Bridgestone Arena 
    Nashville, TN
    03/03/2018
    7:30 pm, ESPNU    		 (2) No. 8 vs. (3) No. 19 Georgia
    Semifinals    		 W 71–49  25–6
    		 Bridgestone Arena (8,819)
    Nashville, TN
    03/04/2018
    4:30 pm, ESPN2    		 (2) No. 8 vs. (1) No. 2 Mississippi State
    Championship Game    		 W 62–51  26–6
    		 Bridgestone Arena (8,215)
    Nashville, TN
    NCAA Women's Tournament
    03/16/2018*
    7:30 pm, ESPN2    		 (2 A) No. 7 (15 A) North Carolina A&T
    First Round    		 W 63–52  27–6
    		 Colonial Life Arena (11,085)
    Columbia, SC
    03/18/2018*
    9:00 pm, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 7 (10 A) Virginia
    Second Round    		 W 66–56  28–6
    		 Colonial Life Arena (10,037)
    Columbia, SC
    03/24/2018*
    11:30 am, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 7 vs. (11 A) Buffalo
    Sweet Sixteen    		 W 79–63  29–6
    		 Times Union Center (10,310)
    Albany, NY
    03/26/2018*
    7:00 pm, ESPN    		 (2 A) No. 7 vs. (1 A) No. 7 Connecticut
    Elite Eight    		 L 65–94  29–7
    		 Times Union Center (9,522)
    Albany, NY
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. A=Albany Region.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    Rankings
    Main article: 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball rankings
    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Final 
    AP 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 9 10 9 7 7 8 7 8 7 Not released 
    Coaches 2 2^ 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 8 10 7 6 8 8 6 8 7 7 6

    ^Coaches' Poll did not release a second poll at the same time as the AP.

    Team players drafted into the WNBA
    RoundPickPlayerWNBA Club
    11A'ja WilsonLas Vegas Aces

    References
    1. http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/w-baskbl/sched/scar-w-baskbl-sched.html
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