The 2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represented the University of South Carolina during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Gamecocks, led by thirteenth-year head coach Dawn Staley, played their home games at Colonial Life Arena and competed as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They finished the season 26–5 (14–2 SEC), won the SEC tournament, and won a bid to the NCAA tournament where they advanced to the Final Four and lost to Stanford.
Previous season The Gamecocks finished the season with a 32–1 overall record and a 16–0 record in conference play. The Gamecocks won the SEC tournament. The Gamecocks therefore received an automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, however the tournament was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and were de facto named mythical national championship by finishing first in the major wire service polls, the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. On December 31, 2020, during the Florida game, the program raised a banner to recognise the claim.
Offseason
Departures South Carolina Departures Mikiah Herbert Harrigan 21 F 6'2" Senior Pembroke Pines, FL Graduated; Drafted sixth overall by the Minnesota Lynx. Tyasha Harris 52 G 5'10" Senior Noblesville, IN Graduated; Drafted seventh overall by the Dallas Wings.
2020 recruiting class
Preseason
SEC Media Poll The SEC media poll was released on November 17, 2020 with the Gamecocks selected to finish in first place in the SEC.
SEC media poll 1 South Carolina 2 Kentucky 3 Texas A&M 4 Arkansas 5 Mississippi State 6 Tennessee 7 LSU 8 Alabama 9 Georgia 10 Missouri 11 Ole Miss 12 Florida 13 Vanderbilt 14 Auburn
Preseason All-SEC teams The Gamecocks had two players selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
First team
Aliyah Boston
Second team
Zia Cooke
Roster
Schedule
!colspan=9 style=| Regular season
!colspan=9 style=| SEC Tournament
!colspan=9 style=| NCAA tournament
See also 2020–21 South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team
References