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South Carolina women's basketball: Gamecocks add another non-conference opponent

On3 imageby:Chris Wellbaum•06/23/25•

ChrisWellbaum

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley works with guard Maddy McDaniel (1) during the first half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley works with guard Maddy McDaniel (1) during the first half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Maryland Terrapins at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

South Carolina will host Providence to wrap up the non-conference schedule, according to an announcement by the Friars.

The game is scheduled for December 28 in Columbia. This will be the first meeting all-time between the Gamecocks and Friars. The programs do share a connection.

Providence assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Valerie Nainima played for Dawn Staley at South Carolina from 2009-2011. She averaged 17.0 points and shot 35.8% from three as a junior, before being slowed by a knee injury as a senior.

A native of Fiji, Nainima began her career at Long Island before joining Staley in Columbia. Since her playing career ended, Nainiam coached at Fordham and Michigan before Providence. 

Providence went 13–19 (6–12 Big East) last season and finished seventh in the Big East.

Providence is the seventh confirmed non-conference opponent for South Carolina. South Carolina plays Southern Cal in Los Angeles on November 15. The Gamecocks will visit Louisville on December 4 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. They visit South Florida on December 18.

South Carolina, Duke, Texas, and UCLA play in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving. 

The annual rivalry game against Clemson has not been confirmed, but there is no reason to think the Tigers won’t be the eighth non-conference opponent for the Gamecocks. That leaves approximately six games left to be determined.

The ongoing home-and-home series with UConn, which began in 2015, ended with last season’s game. No agreement to continue the series has been announced.

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