For the first time in over a decade, women’s college basketball fans will not witness one of the sport’s most anticipated non-conference clashes: South Carolina vs. UConn.
The two programs, led by iconic coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma, have faced each other for 12 straight seasons, producing a streak of competitive, high-stakes games that captivated national audiences. Now, that run has come to an end — and naturally, the question being asked is: why?
The news broke recently, leaving many in the women’s basketball community surprised and disappointed. For some, this matchup had become a staple of the sport, not only for its star power but also for the postseason implications it often carried. On a recent episode of The Hoops Cap, analyst Tee Baker took the time to break down the possible reasoning behind the Gamecocks’ decision to step away from the annual meeting with the Huskies. While quick to point out that he wasn’t pushing any conspiracy theories, Baker provided a rationale that made sense to him.
“I do think that Dawn Staley probably wants to prioritize SEC play,” Baker explained. “She had some complaints about the way that UCLA was selected above them in the selection show this year. And I think she was like, ‘Well, why are we going to make our schedule harder?’”
Baker’s point reflects an important reality: South Carolina already has a demanding schedule. The Gamecocks’ 16-game Southeastern Conference slate kicks off January 1 and runs through March 1, featuring eight games at home and eight on the road. Navigating that grind — often against ranked opponents — is a challenge in itself. Adding a heavyweight non-conference game against UConn could be both physically taxing and strategically risky in terms of postseason seeding.
As Baker noted, playing a top-tier opponent like UConn might not always work in South Carolina’s favor. While a win would add to their résumé, a loss could just as easily be used against them in the eyes of the NCAA Tournament selection committee. “We play UConn and think that’s going to strengthen our schedule,” Baker said, describing Staley’s possible thought process, “but then you quote the loss against them as putting us down a rank.”
Baker also hinted that there could be subtle tension between the programs, though he emphasized that UConn likely won’t be bothered by the cancellation. The Huskies’ schedule is changing this season, with two additional conference games added — increasing their Big East slate from 18 to 20 games — which means they already have plenty of competitive matchups to navigate.
Regardless of the internal reasoning, one thing is clear: fans will miss the spectacle. Over the past 12 years, South Carolina and UConn have delivered some of the sport’s most memorable battles, showcasing All-American talent, top-tier coaching, and postseason-level intensity. The absence of this clash removes one of the most exciting fixtures from the women’s basketball calendar.
The decision may also trace back to a sore spot from last March. Despite South Carolina’s dominant season, the NCAA selection committee awarded UCLA the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. The Gamecocks were one of the four regional No. 1 seeds but fell behind the Bruins in overall ranking — a call that visibly frustrated Staley.
“My reaction? I mean, I’m not in the room,” Staley told reporters at the time. “Obviously, I think we did much more than probably any other overall number one seed. We outdid ourselves, even from last year, with the amount of quality wins that we had. But I guess the committee was looking at something else… Obviously, it’s disappointing. It really is.”
Her frustration wasn’t just about pride — it was about the process. Staley openly questioned what the committee valued in its decision-making, stating she wanted a clear explanation for how the rankings were determined. The Gamecocks had piled up quality wins, played a challenging schedule, and demonstrated consistency throughout the season. To be placed behind UCLA despite that effort left her questioning whether scheduling elite non-conference opponents like UConn was truly worth it.
In fact, Staley’s remarks at the time hinted at exactly the kind of decision we’re seeing now. She suggested that if “playing the right way” and building a strong schedule didn’t matter in the eyes of the committee, then she would consider making changes to how her program approaches scheduling in the future. The implication was clear: why make things more difficult if the rewards aren’t guaranteed?
That logic is exactly what Baker was pointing to on The Hoops Cap. If the selection process doesn’t always reward a tough schedule — and might even penalize teams for certain losses — then it makes sense for a coach to focus on conference play and carefully choose non-conference opponents. For South Carolina, the SEC is already one of the deepest and most competitive leagues in the nation. Adding UConn on top of that may simply be too much, especially with the stakes of every regular-season game impacting tournament positioning.
Of course, the competitive spirit of both Staley and Auriemma means this isn’t necessarily the end of the rivalry. Circumstances could change in the future, and the programs might resume their meetings down the road. But for now, both teams will go their separate ways, focusing on their respective conference campaigns.
Still, the absence will be felt. The South Carolina–UConn rivalry wasn’t just another non-conference game — it was a showcase of two of the sport’s most influential figures. Dawn Staley has built the Gamecocks into a powerhouse, winning national championships and producing WNBA-ready talent. Geno Auriemma’s UConn program, with its decades-long track record of dominance, remains one of the most storied in the game. Every meeting between these two coaches was a test of skill, strategy, and mental toughness.
Fans have come to expect electric moments when these teams meet — buzzer-beaters, defensive battles, individual brilliance, and the kind of intensity that hints at a possible Final Four rematch. Losing that, even for just one season, removes a marquee event from the women’s basketball landscape.
In the bigger picture, this decision raises questions about the incentives built into college basketball’s structure. If elite programs feel they gain little from high-profile non-conference games — and might even harm their postseason standing by scheduling them — then marquee matchups could become less common. That would be a loss not just for fans, but for the sport’s visibility and growth.
For now, South Carolina will enter the 2025 season with its eyes fixed on the SEC schedule, aiming to dominate its conference slate and secure a top NCAA Tournament seed. UConn will do the same in the Big East. The two programs will still be forces in March — but for the first time in over a decade, they won’t be measuring themselves against each other in the regular season.
And while the reasoning may be rooted in strategy, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something special will be missing this year. The basketball world will simply have to wait — and hope — for the day when Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma’s teams share the court again.
