On Monday, the updated AP top 25 came out. Following a top-10 win over LSU (the Gamecocks’ 18th in a row in the series), South Carolina women’s basketball held to the No. 3 spot in the rankings behind the UConn Huskies and UCLA Bruins.

South Carolina did not earn a first-place vote because UConn holds the top spot unanimously.

In fact, the three top spots are all unanimous. UConn was first on all 31 ballots, UCLA was second on all 31 ballots, and, of course, South Carolina was third on all 31 ballots.

Last week, the Gamecocks were No. 3 on 26 ballots but No. 4 on five others. Similarly, USC was the highest-ranked SEC team on 26 ballots a week ago but is the unanimous top dog in the conference this week.

NEW! Message board for South Carolina Women’s Basketball! 🏀 

In an incredible statistical and voting oddity, 2025-2026 has been the first season since 2018-2019 that South Carolina has not yet made it to No. 1. USC has not been outside the top seven since the preseason poll ahead of the 2019-2020 season.

South Carolina has two ranked opponents on the schedule this week.

First, on Thursday, February 19th, the Gamecocks will be in Tuscaloosa for a matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern). SEC Network will broadcast the conference showdown, while the ESPN app makes the contest available via streaming. Alabama fell to No. 25 in the rankings this week following a pair of losses. The Gamecocks have won 24 in a row over the Tide.

Then, on Sunday, February 22nd, South Carolina will return home to Colonial Life Arena, as the Ole Miss Rebels will be in town for a noon tip. College GameDay will be in Columbia, with the pregame show starting at 11:00 a.m. ESPN will broadcast GameDay, while either ESPN or ESPN2 will handle the actual basketball. The ESPN app will make both the pregame show and the on-court action available for streaming. Ole Miss is also No. 17 in the new AP top 25. USC has won the last 20 over Mississippi.

COLUMBIA, S.C – A bill passed by the House could provide relief to small business owners. House lawmakers said the bill will ease the tax burden on 98 percent of South Carolina’s small businesses.

The House passed a bill that would change how the state taxes business property. Every year businesses must report and pay tax on their furniture and equipment if used for business purposes. The bill lets small businesses exclude the first $10,000 of equipment from the tax.

Lawmakers backing the measure said businesses already pay tax when they buy these items and most depreciate after being purchased. The bill impacts 98 percent of South Carolina small businesses according to lawmakers.

To qualify you must pay income taxes in South Carolina, be independently owned and operated and have fewer than 100 employees or make less than $10 million in annual sales. The bill passed the House unanimously.

Thomas Rhodes of Rhodes Companies said he pays hundreds of dollars every year on a depreciating asset in his printer and said the bill can help small businesses like his and others starting out.

“It’s really going to help the small mom and pop businesses that have equipment but not a lot of equipment yet their having to file this ridiculous business personal property tax every year to their local county,” Rhodes said.

Business personal property tax goes to the county a business is located in to help fund public services like schools and infrastructure. A report by the South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office said the bill could reduce local property taxes by $9 million.

Counties like Richland said they may raise millage rates to make up for the lost revenue. These are estimates and could change if eventually becoming law.

The bill now heads to the Senate.

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