Texas
Women’s SEC tournament championship live updates, highlights
Te-Hina Paopao on South Carolina women’s basketball win vs Oklahoma in SEC Tournament
South Carolina senior guard Te-Hina Paopao talked about the Gamecocks’ win over Oklahoma to advance to the SEC Tournament final.
It’s South Carolina vs. Texas part three for the women’s SEC tournament championship.
The Gamecocks and Longhorns are 1-1 against each other this season, with Texas taking the most recent matchup 66-62 at home. South Carolina won the first matchup between top-five ranked programs 67-50 earlier this season.
It’s also the fifth time South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and Texas coach Vic Schaefer have faced off in the SEC championship game, dating back to Schaefer’s tenure at Mississippi State. Schaefer is 0-4 against Staley in the conference championship final.
It’s a fitting end for both programs in the women’s SEC tournament, as the two teams were co-winners of the SEC regular season title and flipped a coin for the No. 1 seed of the SEC tournament, which went to South Carolina. Barring an NCAA Tournament matchup, it’ll be the deciding game between both powerhouses in 2025.
Follow along here for live updates, highlights and score from South Carolina-Texas in the SEC women’s basketball tournament:
Watch women’s SEC tournament championship live with Fubo (free trial)
This section will be updated.
TEAMS
1Q
2Q
3Q
4Q
F
South Carolina
12
21
—
—
—
Texas
10
6
—
—
—
South Carolina takes a 33-16 lead into halftime after holding the Longhorns to 6-of-24 shooting through two quarters.
The Gamecocks also forced nine turnovers in the first half and outscored Texas 9-0 in fast break points, holding the Longhorns to only six points in the second quarter.
Kitts leads all scorers with nine points, with Tessa Johnson contributing seven off the bench in the first half.
Rori Harmon’s midrange jump shot ends Texas’ scoreless drought of the second quarter with 3:29 before halftime.
The Longhorns’ first two points of the second quarter cuts South Carolina’s lead to 27-12.
Fulwiley dices through Texas on the fast-break opportunity, getting to the rim for the and-one layup.
Her speed is nearly unstoppable in the open court, and the 3-point play gives South Carolina a 25-10 lead and continues its 13-0 run.
South Carolina’s suffocating defense is leading to plenty of offense in the second quarter, as the Gamecocks are on an 8-0 run with Texas yet to score through five minutes of the second period.
Kitts leads all scorers with seven points.
South Carolina takes a 15-10 lead on the strong layup by Chloe Kitts, who finds an inch over Texas’ 6-foot-6 forward Kyla Oldacre for the bucket before converting the free-throw attempt.
Texas has yet to score in the second quarter through two minutes of game clock.
Both defenses are showing out early, as neither South Carolina nor Texas can find an rhythm offensively through one quarter.
The Gamecocks are 5 of 13 shooting while the Longhorns are 4 of 14 from the field. South Carolina is also winning the turnover battle, with two giveaways to Texas’ three.
Neither team has been able to get in a groove offensively in the first quarter, although South Carolina leads 6-4 after five minutes of play.
The Longhorns and Gamecocks are just 2 of 8 and 3 of 8 shooting, respectively, thus far.
Here’s a look at both starting lineups as the women’s SEC championship is just about underway:
South Carolina
- Te-Hina Paopao
- Raven Johnson
- Bree Hall
- Chloe Kitts
- Sania Feagin
Texas
- Madison Booker
- Rori Harmon
- Shay Holle
- Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda
- Taylor Jones
Women’s SEC tournament championship time today
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Date: Sunday, March 9
- Location: Bon Secours Wellness Arena (Greenville, South Carolina)
What channel is women’s SEC tournament championship on today?
The women’s SEC tournament championship game between South Carolina and Texas will air live on ESPN, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
South Carolina vs Texas women’s basketball history
- Series record: 3-3
- South Carolina last win: Jan. 12, 2025 (67-50)
- Texas last win: Feb. 9, 2025 (66-62)
Women’s SEC tournament championship predictions, picks
South Carolina 85, Texas: 77: The Gamecocks take this game personally and come out on top.
— Greenville News’ Lulu Kesin
Women’s SEC tournament championship betting odds
Odds from BetMGM as of Sunday, March 9
- Spread: South Carolina (-4.5)
- Over/under: 135.5
- Moneyline: South Carolina -210 | Texas +170
South Carolina women’s basketball schedule 2025
Here are South Carolina’s last five results. See the Gamecocks’ full schedule here.
- March 8: South Carolina 93, Oklahoma 75 (women’s SEC tournament semifinals)
- March 7: South Carolina 84, Vanderbilt 63 (women’s SEC tournament quarterfinals)
- March 2: South Carolina 78, Kentucky 66
- Feb. 27: South Carolina 75, Ole Miss 59
- Feb. 23: South Carolina 82, Vanderbilt 54
Texas women’s basketball schedule 2025
Here are Texas’ last five results. See the Longhorns’ full schedule here.
- March 8: Texas 56, LSU 49 (women’s SEC tournament semifinals)
- March 7: Texas 70, Ole Miss 63 (women’s SEC tournament quarterfinals)
- March 2: Texas 72, Florida 46
- Feb. 27: Texas 68, Mississippi State 64
- Feb. 24: Texas 57, Georgia 26
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Texas
Phoenix Merchant Partners and Texas Capital Alternative Asset Management Form Strategic Relationship
Phoenix Merchant Partners, an independent alternative asset manager, and Texas Capital Alternative Asset Management (TCAAM), a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas Capital Bancshares, formed a strategic relationship to provide customized capital solutions and direct lending to the core middle market across a diverse range of industries.
The relationship integrates the corporate and investment banking coverage network of Texas Capital with the structuring, underwriting and multi-cycle portfolio management expertise of Phoenix. Capitalizing on this powerful combination, Phoenix will launch its first vehicle, Spurstone Credit, in Q3/26. Structured as a perpetual-life, non-traded closed-end credit fund, Spurstone will be headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Spurstone has already attracted interest from a group of anchor institutional investors. The vehicle’s investment mandate will focus primarily on delivering senior secured financing solutions to core middle-market businesses with annual revenues between $100 million and $1 billion that are currently underserved in private credit.
“As the only full-service financial services firm headquartered in Texas, we continuously look for ways to serve the needs of companies and their owners, both in Texas and in our industries of focus across the country. Working with Phoenix expands and accelerates our ability to offer proprietary private credit financing solutions to deserving clients. The Phoenix team shares our disciplined approach to asset structuring, capital preservation and portfolio management, as well as our passion for providing exceptional client service and delivering comprehensive solutions,” Daniel Hoverman, head of corporate and investment banking at Texas Capital and president of TCAAM, said.
The vehicle’s strategy is designed to address a critical structural liquidity gap for non-sponsored, family-owned and founder-led mid-market enterprises requiring flexible, non-dilutive senior capital to fund organic growth, strategic acquisitions and balance sheet optimizations.
“Proprietary origination remains the single biggest differentiator in the private credit landscape,” Art Mbanefo, founder and CEO of Phoenix, said. “Working with TCAAM unlocks unparalleled access to high-quality, founder-owned businesses across Texas and other economic centers like California, New York and Illinois. Together, we are bridging the liquidity gap for exceptional middle-market companies.”
Spurstone will be advised by a newly formed, Phoenix-sponsored registered investment adviser, Ryestone Advisors, which is currently applying for registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. TCAAM will be a minority economic investor in Spurstone’s investment adviser.
Texas
Texas man admits embezzling $3.2 million to pay student loans, fuel online gambling, prosecutors say
A Texas man who siphoned off millions from his employer to wipe out tens of thousands in student loan debt and bankroll extensive online gambling has pleaded guilty to federal embezzlement charges, prosecutors said.
Mitchell David Slentz, 34, of Kyle, pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $3.2 million from Austin Freight Systems, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Financial oversight role detailed
Prosecutors said Slentz held broad responsibility for Austin Freight Systems’ finances, managing accounting operations, overseeing financial reports and internal controls, and handling vendor payment requests submitted to JPMorgan Chase.
Between October 2023 and March 2025, Slentz executed 147 fraudulent payments, diverting $3,277,937.35 into his personal accounts via interstate wire transfers. He used part of the stolen money to make two student loan payments — $25,000 and $33,887. He also gambled heavily on an online platform, depositing and winning more than $1 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Charges and court proceedings
Slentz was charged on May 14, appeared on June 8, and pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived proceeds.
A federal judge will determine Slentz’s sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory factors.
Investigation led by the FBI task force
The FBI Austin White Collar Crime Task Force handled the investigation.
CBS News Texas will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Tuesday morning is off to another warm start, with temperatures in the 70s. Expect another day with breezy winds, hot temperatures and Saharan dust in the sky. Most of the dust will move out of North Texas by Wednesday.
Temperatures on Tuesday afternoon will feel like triple digits, and this trend will continue into the Fourth of July weekend. Because dew points will drop slightly toward the end of the workweek, high temperatures should finally reach the 100° mark by Saturday.
There’s just a slim 10% chance of showers in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, with slightly better rain chances on Sunday and Monday at 20%. Until then, temperatures will continue to heat up, and the feel-like temperatures will be at 100°+ each day. Stay cool.
-
Los Angeles, Ca55 minutes agoMan dies after violent solo crash in Sherman Oaks
-
Detroit, MI1 hour agoPriority Waste CEO shares progress on plan to fix disruptions, delays across Metro Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoThe San Francisco Church That Holds America’s Secrets
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoCrews battle large fire at Pilates studio in Uptown Dallas, officials say
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoalaïa clads first miami boutique in pink mosaic tiles, from interior to facade
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoLooking for a lodging adventure? Beat the heat at a floating B&B. – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoLavender festival, Tennyson Street Fair and more free and cheap things to do in July
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle’s solution for the middle-class housing squeeze: government housing | CNN Business
