As the NCAA Tournament shifts to Dallas for the Final Four — and a star-studded matchup against Iowa and Caitlin Clark awaits — let’s take a look at how South Carolina’s so-far perfect season could continue, and what stands in the way of the Gamecocks’ quest to become repeat national champions.
Why they’ll win
Defense wins championships. It’s an old adage, but it’s no less true, and an overwhelming, lockdown defense has been coach Dawn Staley’s calling card since the Gamecocks turned the corner and started adding to their trophy case. Through the tournament, South Carolina boasts the third-ranked scoring defense — yielding just 51.