South-Carolina

South Carolina, Iowa among five women’s college basketball games to watch this weekend

Published

1 year ago

November 8, 2024

South Carolina, Iowa among five women’s college basketball games to watch this weekend

Caitlin Clark is gone to the WNBA where she continues to shatter records, so where does that leave women’s college basketball?

As it turns out, with a whole lot of star power — much of it in unfamiliar uniforms this season.

The first weekend of the women’s college basketball season is packed with must-see TV, including a couple top 25 matchups where we’ll get a glimpse at teams that could make a Final Four push. Teams like South Carolina, which entered the season favored to win the 2025 title, and North Carolina State are back with lots of familiar faces, while programs like Duke and Maryland have new players that should bring plenty of eyeballs.

And yes, even though they’re not currently ranked in the USA TODAY Sports women’s basketball coaches poll, the Iowa Hawkeyes will indeed be worthy of your attention. First-year coach Jan Jensen, who took over after 24 years as Lisa Bluder’s assistant, is expected to keep the Hawkeyes as one of the highest-scoring teams in the country even without Clark.

Here are the five best women’s basketball games to watch tonight and this weekend.

(Note: All stats referenced are from the 2023-24 season)

No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 8 North Carolina State

Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on ESPN

The defending national champs got welcome news earlier this week when the assault charges against forward Ashlyn Watkins were dismissed, allowing here to rejoin the Gamecocks. She hasn’t practiced with the team in two months, so we’re not sure how much we’ll see her against the Wolfpack in the first game of the Ally Tipoff — and a rematch of the 2024 national semifinal won by South Carolina on its way to the title. If the Gamecocks need some rebounding Sunday, they can surely count on Watkins, who averaged 9.0 boards per game and 2.3 blocks during their tournament run. To pull off a preseason upset NC State will need big play from its backcourt featuring Aziaha James (16.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg) and Saniya Rivers (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg).

No. 11 Duke at No. 18 Maryland

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on FS1

The best freshman from Duke that you haven’t heard of is Toby Fournier, a 6-foot-2 Canadian forward. She’s enough of a reason to tune in, though we’re also excited to see transfer Saylor Poffenbarger (10.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg) in her first year with the Terps. Poffenbarger originally committed to Connecticut before transferring to Arkansas, where she was a standout player for two years in the SEC. This matchup used to be must-see TV when it happened annually in the ACC, and we consider it that this year, too.

No. 20 Creighton at South Dakota State

Friday, 7 p.m. ET on Summit League Network

Don’t be fooled into thinking this will be any sort of cakewalk for the ranked Blue Jays. South Dakota State is an NCAA tournament regular, and returns Summit League player of the year Brooklyn Meyer (18.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg). Meanwhile Paige Meyer (no relation) is the reigning Summit League tournament MVP. Creighton returns seven of its top eight scorers from last season, including All-Big East players Lauren Jensen (17.4 ppg) and Morgan Maly (15.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg).

Virginia Tech vs. Iowa

Sunday, 5:30 ET on ESPN2

The second game of the Ally Tipoff will be the nation’s first glimpse at Iowa post-Clark. And while the Hawkeyes lost the leading career scorer in college basketball, they replaced her with another sharpshooter in transfer Lucy Olsen, who averaged 23.3 points per game at Villanova. They also return Hannah Stuelke (14.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg), a junior forward who had a breakout season last year and proved herself more than capable of controlling the paint on both ends. Virginia Tech is undergoing a transition with coach Kenny Brooks and star point guard Georgia Amoore leaving for Kentucky and Elizabeth Kitley finishing her eligibility. More production will be needed from from senior forward Matilda Ekh (10.4 ppg) and sophomore guard Carleigh Wenzel (4.2 ppg).

No. 12 Baylor at Oregon

Sunday, 10 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network

The Ducks are in complete rebuilding mode after losing numerous players to the transfer portal, but if you’re going to start over, it’s nice to have Deja Kelly (16.3 ppg) as the foundation. The North Carolina transfer will face her first major test against the Bears, which feature their own big transfer in senior center Aaronette Vonleh, who averaged 14.0 points and 5.1 rebounds last year at Colorado. With Vonleh inside and both Sarah Andrews (11.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) outside, Baylor will have one of the most balanced scoring attacks in the nation this season.

Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

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South-Carolina

Clemson Linebacker Honored As South Carolina’s Best Athlete

Published

8 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Clemson Linebacker Honored As South Carolina’s Best Athlete

This week, Clemson added another trophy to the cabinet, but this wasn’t a team award. Junior linebacker Sammy Brown was honored with the Blanchard-Rogers Award, which honors the most spectacular athlete in the state of South Carolina.

The sky is the limit for Brown, who seems to just keep getting better.

After receiving the 2024 ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Brown turned around and posted an even stronger sophomore campaign, now appropriately honored by the Roger-Blanchard award.

With 106 total tackles (51 solo), five sacks and a forced fumble and an interception a piece, Brown caused mayhem in the 2025 season.

But in a year where Clemson drastically underperformed by many metrics, Brown was undoubtedly a bright spot, and he recognized that this season taught him lessons beyond football.

“There’s just so much that I can give credit to this season. It’s not all bad can come from, you know, having a bad season,” Brown said after a loss to Penn State in Clemson’s bowl game capped the season at 7-6.

Since its inception in 2013, Brown is the seventh Clemson player to be selected for the award. But in receiving the award, Sammy Brown is breaking a trend that has strongly favored the Tigers’ foe: the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Cocks have dominated the award since Jalin Hyatt received it in 2022. Then, it was Xavier Legette, followed by Kyle Kennard, who received the nomination last year.

In its early years, the award essentially functioned as Clemson’s “best player” honor, with the Tigers claiming five of the first six selections.

Returning the award to upstate South Carolina, Brown joins the elite company of Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson, Travis Etienne Jr., Vic Beasley and Tajh Boyd.

Brown is the first Clemson defensive player to win the award since Vic Beasley.

Brown will be formally honored by the South Carolina Hall of Fame on April 16, 2026 at Hotel Hartness in Greenville, South Carolina.

Heading into his third season with Clemson, Brown will be leaned on heavily in 2026. Now as a veteran with several elite awards and recognitions, Brown will be a backbone relied on for leadership and direction — and he knows it.

“Its going to be really tough and a lot of guys are going to have to take on new new roles and I’m going to have to step into the into the leadership role and take on being more of a vocal leader,” Brown said. “It’s going to be tough, but it’s going to be a new journey for me, a new journey for this team and I’m really excited and looking forward to that.”

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South-Carolina

What Kim Mulkey said about Dawn Staley, South Carolina vs LSU rematch

Published

20 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

What Kim Mulkey said about Dawn Staley, South Carolina vs LSU rematch

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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

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South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for March 5, 2026

Published

2 days ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for March 5, 2026

The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from March 5 drawing

Midday: 0-3-7, FB: 2

Evening: 4-1-2, FB: 5

Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from March 5 drawing

Midday: 6-0-1-3, FB: 2

Evening: 4-0-5-9, FB: 5

Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 5 drawing

Midday: 14

Evening: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from March 5 drawing

18-21-30-31-42

Check Palmetto Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

The South Carolina Education Lottery provides multiple ways to claim prizes, depending on the amount won:

For prizes up to $500, you can redeem your winnings directly at any authorized South Carolina Education Lottery retailer. Simply present your signed winning ticket at the retailer for an immediate payout.

Winnings $501 to $100,000, may be redeemed by mailing your signed winning ticket along with a completed claim form and a copy of a government-issued photo ID to the South Carolina Education Lottery Claims Center. For security, keep copies of your documents and use registered mail to ensure the safe arrival of your ticket.

SC Education Lottery

P.O. Box 11039

Columbia, SC 29211-1039

For large winnings above $100,000, claims must be made in person at the South Carolina Education Lottery Headquarters in Columbia. To claim, bring your signed winning ticket, a completed claim form, a government-issued photo ID, and your Social Security card for identity verification. Winners of large prizes may also set up an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for convenient direct deposit of winnings.

Columbia Claims Center

1303 Assembly Street

Columbia, SC 29201

Claim Deadline: All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date for draw games.

For more details and to access the claim form, visit the South Carolina Lottery claim page.

When are the South Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Pick 4: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Cash Pop: Daily at 12:59 p.m. (Midday) and 6:59 p.m. (Evening).
Palmetto Cash 5: 6:59 p.m. ET daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Carolina editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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