South Carolina coaches

The South Carolina Gamecocks have made a strong start to their sports season, achieving victories in swimming against Duke, with the women winning 161-139 and the men 155-145. Notable performers included Madison Kolessar and Amy Riordan for the women, while Michael Laitarovsky and Raymond Prosinski led the men's team. In women's basketball, the Gamecocks are ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports preseason poll after a perfect 38-0 season last year. Raven Johnson, Te-Hina Paopao, and MiLaysia Fulwiley were highlighted as key players, with Paopao earning first-team recognition. The team is poised to defend its national title, with a strong roster returning and the season set to begin on November 4. South Carolina's dominance is further underscored by their ranking, as they received 27 of 31 first-place votes, outpacing UConn and Southern California.