South-Carolina
Can South Carolina run it back — and nine more questions for women’s college basketball
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Michael Voepel
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Alexa Philippou
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Alexa Philippou
ESPN
- Covers women’s college basketball and the WNBA
- Previously covered UConn and the WNBA Connecticut Sun for the Hartford Courant
- Stanford graduate and Baltimore native with further experience at the Dallas Morning News, Seattle Times and Cincinnati Enquirer
The 2023-24 women’s college basketball season ended with perfection as the South Carolina Gamecocks went 38-0 and won the program’s third NCAA championship.
Can the Gamecocks run it back? That’s one of the biggest questions that will shape the 2024-25 season.
Which player will fill the game’s brightest spotlight now that Caitlin Clark, the two-time national player of the year, is gone? What should we expect from last season’s exciting freshman class, led by USC’s JuJu Watkins? How will the breakup of the Pac-12 impact the sport?
With the season tipping off Nov. 4, we look at 10 of the biggest questions heading into the 2024-2025 season.
Can the Gamecocks win back-to-back titles?
Yes, they can. But they might look a little different doing it, at least early on, since the Gamecocks’ guards might be ahead of their post play.
Center Kamilla Cardoso, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft by the Chicago Sky, led South Carolina last season in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage. But the next two scoring leaders, guards MiLaysia Fulwiley (11.7 points per game) and Te-Hina Paopao (11.0 PPG), return.
South Carolina still has a lot of talent in the post, including freshman Joyce Edwards. But forward Ashlyn Watkins (9.2 PPG, 7.4 rebounds per game) has been suspended since an Aug. 31 arrest on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping. Her court appearance set for Oct. 25 was rescheduled.
Another undefeated season seems like a lot to ask. But the Gamecocks — who return 87% of their minutes played and 84% of their points scored from a season ago — are still first in the national championship discussion. — Voepel
Can UConn return to the mountaintop?
UConn is the gold standard of college basketball with 11 national titles, but the Huskies haven’t been the last team standing since 2016, Breanna Stewart’s senior year. The Huskies reached the Final Four in all but one season in that span, and played in the 2022 national title game.
Could this be the year they finally win that 12th championship? Former national player of the year Paige Bueckers is hungry to make it happen in her final season in Storrs before heading to the WNBA. She’ll have a lot on her shoulders leading a relatively young and inexperienced, albeit talented, team following the departures of Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl. The program will need to have better luck with health than it has experienced the past few years to get back to the mountaintop. — Philippou
Can the L.A. schools get to the Final Four?
USC and UCLA were two of the most exciting teams to watch last season. Watkins brought the Trojans back to prominence for the first time in decades, while Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice and Charisma Osborne led a deep Bruins squad.
Both teams should be even better this year. USC brought in transfers Kiki Iriafen (Stanford) and Talia von Oelhoffen (Oregon State), plus a stacked freshman class, to help Watkins. In Westwood, coach Cori Close snagged intriguing transfers in Janiah Barker (Texas A&M), Timea Gardiner (Oregon State) and Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State).
The battle for the Big Ten will preview both teams’ push to get to the Final Four — USC for the first time since 1986 and UCLA for the first time in the NCAA era. — Philippou
Who will win player of the year?
The favorites going into the season are sophomore Watkins (27.1 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 3.3 assists per game) and senior Bueckers (21.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.8 APG), who was the consensus player of the year her freshman season in 2020-21.
Other candidates might emerge during the season, depending on how their teams perform. While South Carolina is the favorite at No. 1, the Gamecocks’ depth of talent is such that they don’t have an obvious player of the year candidate. — Voepel
Which freshmen or transfers will make the biggest splash?
Last year’s freshman class made waves all season long. So did a host of transfers. So which newcomers — incoming freshmen or transfers to new programs — will prove to be difference-makers in 2024-25?
As far as the freshmen go, UConn is the only program with two top-10 recruits, headlined by No. 1 prospect Sarah Strong. Jaloni Cambridge was a huge get for Ohio State, especially considering the program’s graduation losses. Joyce Edwards, who decided to stay home and go to South Carolina, has already received rave reviews from coach Dawn Staley.
Aside from the aforementioned transfers into the L.A. schools, Raegan Beers (Oregon State to Oklahoma), Georgia Amoore (Virginia Tech to Kentucky) and Lucy Olsen (Villanova to Iowa) are among the key players to watch. — Philippou
How will players back from injuries fare?
Three big-name guards missed all (Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles), most (UConn’s Azzi Fudd) or a large part (Texas’ Rori Harmon) of last season due to knee injuries. All are expected back, although Fudd probably won’t play until December. They are dynamic players who can make a big difference in their teams’ national championship potential.
Other players to watch after injury: UConn center Jana El Alfy (Achilles) is expected to make her long-awaited college debut. LSU forward Sa’Myah Smith (knee, played seven games last season) could be a big help in making up for the loss of Angel Reese to the WNBA. Guard KK Deans (knee, played six games) should give Ole Miss’ perimeter scoring a boost. — Voepel
How deep can a Hidalgo-Miles backcourt take the Irish?
With Miles out, Irish fans were robbed of a year of a Hannah Hidalgo-Miles backcourt. But we’ll get to finally see that dynamic duo, and coach Niele Ivey already has said the pairing is going to be “electric.”
With Miles and Hidalgo leading the charge, optimism is high in South Bend that this is the year the Irish — the ACC preseason favorites — can advance past the Sweet 16 for the first time in Ivey’s tenure.
Those two won’t have to do it alone, as the Irish also return Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld and have a strong group of newcomers: transfers Liza Karlen (Marquette) and Liatu King (Pitt) plus freshman Kate Koval. — Philippou
What should we expect of Stanford in a new era?
Of all the coaching changes, none is bigger than Stanford not having legendary Tara VanDerveer on the sideline for the first time since she took over in 1985. Kate Paye takes over, and we’ll see how different the Cardinal might look under VanDerveer’s former player and longtime assistant.
There’s also a big change in personnel, with Cameron Brink moving on to the WNBA, Iriafen transferring and Hannah Jump completing her eligibility. They were the Cardinal’s top three scorers from a 30-6 season.
Stanford is difficult to project right now because so much is new, but the Cardinal playing in the ACC will be as strange as anything. — Voepel
What will Iowa, Kentucky and Tennessee look like under new leadership?
The situation at Iowa is most similar to Stanford, with Lisa Bluder stepping down after 24 years and her assistant during that time, Jan Jensen, taking over. The Hawkeyes lost not just a generational star in Clark, but players such as starting guards Kate Martin and Gabbie Marshall as well. That said, forward Hannah Stuelke is primed for a big junior season, and Jensen should get the best out of this group.
Kentucky is still seeking its first Final Four on the women’s side. Coach Kenny Brooks made that breakthrough at Virginia Tech, so maybe he can do it with the Wildcats. It likely won’t happen this season, but give Brooks time to establish his system.
At Tennessee, Kim Caldwell will try to transfer her up-tempo offensive and defensive style to the SEC after success last year at Marshall. Caldwell doesn’t have much Division I experience, so she will have to learn on the fly in a hypercompetitive league. — Voepel
How will realignment impact college basketball?
The past year’s realignment whirlwind, and the disintegration of the Pac-12, will undoubtedly take some getting used to, particularly with Stanford and Cal now in the ACC, and USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon in the Big Ten.
But which programs will make the most noise in their new leagues? The L.A. schools are at the top of the list, with both slotted as the top two teams in the Big Ten preseason poll. In the SEC, Texas was projected to finish behind South Carolina, and Oklahoma was picked to come in fourth. Could the Longhorns — a top-five preseason team nationally — challenge the Gamecocks?
None of the ACC newcomers seem likely to emerge as conference contenders. In the Big 12, Kansas State and Iowa State figure to be the favorites with the Longhorns and Sooners gone. — Philippou
COLUMBIA — Three candidates seeking to become South Carolina’s first Democratic governor in more than two decades squared off in fiery rebuttals on live television June 3.
State Rep. Jermaine Johnson, attorney Mullins McLeod and businessman Billy Webster debated for an hour during SCETV’s Democratic gubernatorial square-off where McLeod attacked the other two candidates almost every chance he got to speak.
It was the second SCETV debate this week and all three candidates participated, compared with the Republican debate June 1 where only half the six candidates appeared.
Nearly every question, McLeod exceeded his allotted time, often using his messaging to attack his opponents.
Democrats face long odds in the November general election. The Palmetto State has not elected a Democratic governor in more than a quarter-century, and the party’s prospects have diminished in recent election cycles.
But the three candidates on the debate stage made it known they’re not afraid of the challenge.
“In this state there are at least 1.1 million people who are willing to vote for a Democrat and a Black person statewide,” Johnson said on his odds of winning, referencing the number of people who voted for Jaime Harrison in 2020 against Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.
And while it wasn’t mentioned during the debate, Democratic early voter turnout has reached historic levels this election cycle. On the first day of early voting, Democratic primary voters outnumbered Republicans more than four-to-one, about 46,000 to 10,000. Early voting will end June 5.
While the three candidates largely agreed on broader policy like Medicaid and abortion access, they did have some key differences in opinions on issues like gambling and even how to work with the legislature.
Where candidates agreed
The three men largely agreed there are major issues that need to be addressed in the state’s health care systems, but went about addressing them in different ways.
Medicaid expansion was something all three candidates broadly agreed on, specifically tied to ensuring the state decreases the rise in infant mortality rates. All three believed there is corruption in the government.
All candidates had issues with data centers. McLeod labeled himself as the only anti-data center candidate, while Johnson boasted about his Statehouse experience in introducing a moratorium to stop data centers from coming into the state. Webster poked at flaws surrounding promises of transparency associated with the projects and the environmental hazards the centers bring.
Both Webster and Johnson went after Republicans who have campaigned on getting rid of the state income tax, saying it was unrealistic for the state to do so.
“We cannot eliminate the state income tax and even have a state that is recognizable in 10 years,” Webster said.
Where they disagreed
There were some stark disagreements, including how to go about working with the legislature. Johnson and Webster reflected on their time working across the aisle with Republicans while McLeod said bipartisanship is not the answer.
“More politics is not the answer. Bipartisanship is not the answer” McLeod said. “You know what’s been missing? The truth, the light … servant leaders who are willing to stand for the people of South Carolina.”
Public education was another area the candidates differed. Webster said there needs to be less regulations and restrictions on South Carolina teachers so that they are not so weighed down by requirements. Johnson proposed adding universal pre-K and McLeod said he wanted to pay teachers $85,000-$100,000 per year.
Candidates also had different answers on gambling. Johnson reflected on personal experiences where he saw gambling bring havoc to his family, but said the opening of casinos in South Carolina could be possible with great oversight. Webster said he didn’t have enough knowledge on the topic but could see the benefits that casinos could bring in the form of jobs in counties like Orangeburg if given proper regulation. McLeod said gambling causes problems and was against the opening of casinos.
Surprises
Much of the campaign attacks from Democratic candidates have been directed at Republicans, not necessarily each other. But the night was different.
Multiple times during the debate, McLeod went over his allotted time to try to attack Johnson or Webster. Both candidates repeated the same response in return, sometimes laughing, saying they had no idea what McLeod was talking about.
McLeod continued to reference both Webster and Johnson as being part of the corruption in South Carolina that he could “shine a light” on. He referred to himself as a servant more than six times.
“If you’re going to be on the stage and run for governor, you better start checking your facts,” Webster said to McLeod.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – A ceremonial bill signing was held We Wednesday for a new law that enhances penalties for harming police animals in South Carolina.
H.3034 – also known as Fargo’s, Hyco’s, Rico’s, Coba’s, Wick’s, Mikka’s, and Bumi’s Law – was passed and ratified by state lawmakers in May.
The bill is named after seven police K-9’s lost in recent years acros South Carolina.
Gov. Henry McMaster later signed the bill into law, with it going into effect on May 15.
The law makes killing or severely injuring a police animal, such as a K-9 or horse, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
It also states that anyone convicted of that crime must pay back the full cost of the animal – including buying a new one, training and any veterinarian bills. The law also makes it a crime to fire at a police vehicle if an animal is inside.
Police are also required by law to keep detailed records when a K-9 bites or causes injury.
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Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The South Carolina Education Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing
15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 8-7-6, FB: 6
Evening: 3-8-3, FB: 6
Check Pick 3 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 2-8-6-6, FB: 6
Evening: 7-1-4-4, FB: 6
Check Pick 4 Plus FIREBALL payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 02
Evening: 06
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Palmetto Cash 5 numbers from June 2 drawing
01-04-05-07-34
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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