GREENVILLE — South Carolina women’s basketball and LSU already faced off in primetime and will now meet again on a big stage.
The No. 1 seed Gamecocks (30-2) and No. 4 seed Tigers (27-4) are playing in the SEC Tournament semifinals on March 7 (4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
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South Carolina and coach Dawn Staley beat coach Kim Mulkey and LSU 79-72 on Feb. 14 to secure an 18th straight victory in the series.
It was a tight game in Baton Rouge, with the largest lead eight for the Gamecocks and six for the Tigers. South Carolina went on a 6-0 run in the final 25 seconds, with LSU missing five fourth-quarter free throws.
“I don’t know that I can expect anything, that I can just say, ‘Oh, I expect this.’ I expect two teams that respect each other, that are good for the SEC, good for women’s basketball, and they’re competitors,” Mulkey said.
Before arriving in Baton Rouge, Mulkey coached for 21 seasons at Baylor. She beat South Carolina twice at Baylor but she has yet to beat Staley with the Tigers. Staley is 7-2 against Mulkey heading into this year’s rematch.
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The last six wins have gone to Staley. One came in the SEC Tournament championship in 2024, but they didn’t meet in 2025, with the Gamecocks beating Texas in last year’s tournament final.
“It should be a game that a lot of women’s basketball fans should watch because you’re looking at great talent on the floor,” Mulkey said. “You’re looking at two coaches that — well, I’m old. Dawn’s not quite as old as I am, but they’ve done a lot in the game. It will be good for the game. It will be good TV, and I don’t anticipate anything but it being a good game.”
The first matchup was the first women’s basketball game to air on ABC on a Saturday night. The network specifically chose the game, knowing the matchup always delivers in addition to MiLaysia Fulwiley layer.
Fulwiley transferred to Mulkey’s LSU team after two seasons with Staley at South Carolina. She had six points in the first meeting and comes into the rematch off 22 points and eight assists vs Oklahoma.
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ESPN said the first meeting averaged 1.7 million viewers, peaking at 2.2 million, which was the most-watched women’s college basketball game across all networks this season. South Carolina’s win over Tennessee on Feb. 8 held the previous record, peaking at 1.5 million.
South Carolina has been the No. 3 team in the country most of the season. LSU was No. 6 during the matchup and still is. The Gamecocks are one of four No. 1 seeds in bracketology projections and the Tigers are a No. 2 seed for March Madness.
In just her second season with LSU, Mulkey won the national championship in 2023, which marked her fourth overall after winning three with Baylor (2005, 2012, 2019.)
Staley has three overall, all from her time at South Carolina with the first in 2017. She won in 2022 and 2024, with Mulkey’s title right in-between her two most recent championships.
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“When you toss it up, you’re trying to win,” Mulkey said. “Someone’s going to win. Someone’s going to lose. But think of what’s ahead. It doesn’t matter what happens in this tournament, it’s what all of us are trying to do, and that is get to a Final Four and win a natty.”
Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Kim Mulkey reaction to LSU vs South Carolina rematch, Dawn Staley
