March in South Carolina hits different. Especially when you’re standing inside the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and the air is thick with the smell of floor wax and overpriced popcorn. If you followed the sec women’s bracket 2025, you know it wasn't just another tournament. It was the year the conference officially became a 16-team juggernaut.
Honestly, adding Texas and Oklahoma changed the vibe. It wasn't just the "South Carolina Invitational" anymore, even if Dawn Staley’s squad ultimately did what they always do. The bracket was a mess of tiebreakers and coin flips that left fans scratching their heads until the very last buzzer of the regular season.
The Chaos of the 16-Team Field
Before the first whistle even blew on Wednesday, March 5, the bracket was already a talking point. For the first time, we had 16 teams. That meant a longer Wednesday. More tired legs. More chances for a Cinderella to actually do something meaningful.
The top of the sec women’s bracket 2025 was essentially a mirror image. South Carolina and Texas both finished the regular season at 15-1. Imagine that. You play a grueling conference schedule and end up tied with the newcomer. South Carolina won the coin flip to take the #1 seed, while Texas had to settle for the #2 spot.
LSU sat at #3, looking dangerous as ever. Kentucky, under Kenny Brooks, managed to snag the #4 seed. That double-bye is everything. If you’re not in those top four spots, your path to Sunday is basically a mountain climb in flip-flops.
Wednesday and Thursday: The Survival Rounds
Wednesday is usually for the teams just trying to keep their seasons alive. Tennessee found themselves in the weird position of playing on Day 1 as a #9 seed against #16 Texas A&M. They handled business 77-37, but seeing the Lady Vols play that early felt wrong.
Georgia and Arkansas had a real battle. The Bulldogs moved on with a 79-74 win. Meanwhile, Mississippi State took down Missouri, and Florida squeaked past Auburn.
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Thursday is where things got spicy. This is the second round, where seeds 5 through 8 enter the fray. Vanderbilt, the #8 seed, had to face a Tennessee team that had already found its rhythm. The Dores pulled it off, 84-76. It was one of those games where you could tell the extra day of rest didn't matter as much as momentum.
Oklahoma made their SEC tournament debut against Georgia and cruised 70-52. Ole Miss beat Mississippi State in a physical rivalry game, and Florida pulled off a minor upset by toppling #6 Alabama 63-61. If you had the Gators moving to the quarterfinals in your sec women’s bracket 2025 predictions, you’re probably a liar or a genius.
Quarterfinals: Where the Heavyweights Live
Friday is the best day of the tournament. Period. Four games. No fluff.
South Carolina started the day by reminding Vanderbilt why they are the gold standard. A 21-point win (84-63) wasn't surprising, but Chloe Kitts looked unstoppable. She’d eventually be the MVP, and this game was the blueprint.
The real shocker? Kentucky falling to Oklahoma. The Sooners won 69-65 in a game that felt like a track meet. Raegan Beers is a problem for anyone in the paint. Texas then took care of Ole Miss, and LSU ended Florida’s run with a massive 101-87 offensive explosion.
The Saturday Semifinals and the Big Finale
By Saturday, the sec women’s bracket 2025 was down to the elite.
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- #1 South Carolina vs. #5 Oklahoma
- #2 Texas vs. #3 LSU
The Gamecocks didn’t let Oklahoma breathe. A 93-75 victory sent them to the finals. But the nightcap between Texas and LSU was a defensive masterclass—or a shooting nightmare, depending on who you ask. Texas won 56-49. It was gritty. It was ugly. It was perfect March basketball.
Sunday, March 9. The Championship.
Everyone wanted the South Carolina vs. Texas showdown. We got it. But we didn't get a close game. Dawn Staley’s defense turned the Longhorns over repeatedly. The Gamecocks cruised to a 64-45 win. It was their ninth SEC tournament title.
Key Players Who Defined the Bracket
You can't talk about the sec women’s bracket 2025 without mentioning the individuals who carried their teams.
Chloe Kitts was the engine for South Carolina. Her ability to score in transition and rebound over taller defenders is elite. But let’s not overlook Madison Booker at Texas. Even in the loss, she proved she's one of the best players in the country.
LSU’s duo of Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow provided the most fireworks. When they get going, the Tigers are impossible to stop. And Oklahoma’s Raegan Beers? She’s going to be a thorn in the SEC’s side for a while.
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Why This Bracket Mattered More Than Most
The 2025 tournament wasn't just about a trophy. It was a statement. The SEC now has two of the most dominant programs in history with South Carolina and Texas.
The depth is terrifying. Seeing teams like Vanderbilt and Kentucky turn things around makes the middle of the pack just as dangerous as the top. Even Florida showed that on any given Thursday, the bottom seeds can ruin a "lock" for the NCAA tournament.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're looking at the sec women’s bracket 2025 as a guide for the future, keep these things in mind.
First, the double-bye is the most valuable currency in college sports. No team has won the SEC tournament without one in recent memory. If your team is sitting at the #5 seed, the math is against them.
Second, watch the transfer portal impact on the bottom half of the conference. Teams like Georgia and Mississippi State are one or two veteran guards away from jumping into that top four.
Finally, plan your travel for Greenville. The SEC extended its contract with the Bon Secours Wellness Arena through 2028. It’s a great venue, the fans show up, and the basketball is consistently the best in the nation.
Keep an eye on the 2026 early-season standings. The battle for those top four seeds starts in January, not March. If Texas and South Carolina stay this consistent, the rest of the league is fighting for two spots.
The sec women’s bracket 2025 proved that while the names on the jerseys might change, the road to the title still runs through Columbia, South Carolina. For now.