Dawn Staley vs. Geno Auriemma will return in 2026.
South Carolina women’s basketball will travel to Uncasville, Connecticut, to play in the 13th annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Nov. 24, 2026, at Mohegan Sun Arena against UConn, the programs announced Nov. 5.
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It’s a rematch from the 2025 national championship when the Huskies defeated the Gamecocks to win their program’s 12th title. Until then, Staley had not lost in a national championship, which included a win over Auriemma in 2022.
What is Dawn Staley’s record vs Geno Auriemma?
Staley is 1-1 against Auriemma in national championship games and 5-10 against him overall, winning four straight from 2021-24.
South Carolina faced UConn twice last season, once in the regular season and once in postseason play, but their contract wasn’t renewed for 2025-26. Both times in 2024-25, the Huskies won by 20 or more.
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Overall, the Gamecocks are 5-11 in the series, which is tied 2-2 in neutral site games. South Carolina beat UConn in Columbia in 2024, part of its undefeated season that ended with a national championship win.
Three of the last four national championships have featured one of the two programs, and since 2017, UConn or South Carolina has made it to at least the Final Four every year.
The Huskies were No. 1 in the preseason polls, right above the No. 2 Gamecocks.
South Carolina played in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase, picking up a 78-69 win over then No. 11 Utah on Dec. 10, 2023.
This is the second game revealed this week for South Carolina’s 2026-27 schedule, as it was announced on Nov. 3 that Staley’s Gamecocks will open next season against Maryland on Nov. 2 at Adidas Arena in Paris.
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Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@gannett.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky@bylulukesin.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women’s basketball vs UConn set for 2026-27 season
