No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Texas women's basketball: Time, how to watch, preview for the top-5 game
📺 How to watch the Gamecocks and the Longhorns
Before the Super Bowl takes center stage, get your sports Sunday rolling with a huge women's hoops showdown. No. 2 South Carolina and No. 4 Texas are set to battle it out in SEC play. Here’s everything you need to know:
🗓️ Date: Sunday, February 9
⏰ Time: 2 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Moody Center in Austin, Texas 🏟️
📺 Where to Watch: ESPN |
👀 Take a Glimpse: Gamecocks vs. Longhorns Preview
South Carolina: A Defensive Powerhouse Looking to Stay on Top 🐔
Heading into Sunday, the Gamecocks continue to prove why they belong at the top, fresh off an 83-66 win over Auburn that extended their SEC-record 70-game home winning streak. They remain undefeated in conference play, winning 56 straight regular-season SEC games, and look to keep rolling against a red-hot Texas team.
- Joyce Edwards continues to shine, leading the team with 18 points against Auburn, marking her 10th game as the team's top scorer this season.
- MiLaysia Fulwiley is a dynamic offensive threat, posting 17 points and playing a crucial role in South Carolina’s explosive fourth-quarter run.
- Chloe Kitts is a force inside, scoring 13 points and pulling down nine rebounds in her last outing.
- Raven Johnson is the Gamecocks’ defensive anchor, setting a career-high six steals while adding seven assists.
Texas: Surging in the Polls and Protecting Home Court 🤘
The Longhorns moved up to No. 4 in the latest AP Poll after back-to-back wins over Missouri and Texas A&M. The 70-50 victory over the Aggies came against a team that had already knocked off then-No. 11 Kentucky and Ole Miss.
- Madison Booker is Texas' go-to star, recording 17 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in her last game, marking her fourth double-double of the season.
- Rori Harmon is a key playmaker, scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting while dishing out five assists with just one turnover.
- Shay Holle is heating up from deep, knocking down clutch 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to seal wins.
- Texas’ defense is elite, holding opponents to just 35% shooting
South Carolina’s defense is its calling card, forcing 16 steals against Auburn and routinely shutting down opponents. But Texas is one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country — a battle of strengths that will be key in determining the winner.
Key Storylines to Watch ON SUNDAY (FEb. 9) 👀
🔥 Defense vs. Efficiency — South Carolina thrives on forcing turnovers, while Texas is one of the best teams in the country at protecting the ball. Who wins the possession battle?
🎯 Hot Shooting vs. Lockdown Defense — Texas is undefeated when it shoots better than 50%, but South Carolina holds teams to only 34.3 percent shooting, one of the top-10 best marks in the nation
📍 Home Court Advantage — Texas is 7-0 at home this season, but South Carolina has been dominant in big-game environments. Can the Moody Center crowd rattle the Gamecocks?
⚔️ What to know about the teams
The battle between No. 2 South Carolina and No. 4 Texas doesn't have a long list of games, but now the two programs are both in the SEC. South Carolina has won three in a row in the series, however. With just five meetings between these powerhouses, the series is tight at 3-2 in favor of South Carolina.
Series Snapshot 🏀
- Total Matchups: 5 | South Carolina Leads 3-2
- Current Streak: 🔥 South Carolina, 3 straight wins (2016-present)
- First Matchup: 🏆 Texas wins 77-58 (1988) | Largest Margin of Victory (+19)
- Last Matchup: 🐔 South Carolina wins 67-50 (2025)
- Closest Game: Texas wins 59-55 (2005) | Smallest Margin of Victory (+4)
The list of showdowns ⏳
📌 March 20, 1988 — Texas opened the series with a 77-58 win, marking their most dominant victory.
📌 Nov. 25, 2005 — In the closest game of the rivalry, Texas edged out South Carolina 59-55, marking their most recent win in the series.
📌 Dec. 1, 2016 — South Carolina began its current three-game streak, taking down Texas 76-67 on the road.
📌 March 30, 2021 (NCAA tournament Showdown 🎟️) — South Carolina locked down defensively, holding Texas to just 34 points in a 62-34 blowout in San Antonio.
📌 January 12, 2025 — The Gamecocks continued their dominance at home, cruising to a 67-50 victory and extending their winning streak over Texas.