Winning feels like a habit for Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks. Seriously, if you look at their record over the last few years, it’s basically just a long sea of green "W" marks. They went undefeated in 2024. They won the title. They basically looked invincible. But then, as it always does in sports, someone eventually finds a way.
Honestly, it’s kinda rare to even ask the question. Most of the time, the conversation is about who the Gamecocks are going to blow out by 30 points next. But if you’re looking for the specific teams that managed to pull off the "impossible" and actually put a loss on their record recently, the list is remarkably short.
Texas and the Shot That Shook Las Vegas
If you're wondering who beat South Carolina women's basketball most recently, look no further than the Texas Longhorns. This wasn't some blowout or a fluke. It happened on November 27, 2025, during the championship game of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.
The game was a total slugfest. Two heavyweights basically trading punches for 40 minutes. South Carolina, ranked No. 2 at the time, was trying to keep their early-season momentum going. But Texas had other plans. The Longhorns' Rori Harmon basically decided she wasn't losing that day.
With the clock winding down and the game tied, Harmon took it upon herself to call game. She hit a jumper right as time expired to give Texas a 66-64 win. It was the first time anyone had beaten Staley's squad in what felt like forever.
- Final Score: Texas 66, South Carolina 64
- The Hero: Rori Harmon (Buzzer-beater)
- The Vibe: Pure chaos in Vegas.
You’ve gotta give credit to Vic Schaefer. He’s one of the few coaches who consistently puts together a defensive scheme that doesn't just fold when the Gamecocks start playing physical. Texas stayed disciplined, limited South Carolina's second-chance points, and waited for their moment. They got it.
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That Time UCLA Stunned the Gamecocks in LA
Before the Texas loss, you have to go back to the very beginning of the 2024-25 season. On November 24, 2024, the Gamecocks traveled to Pauley Pavilion to face the No. 5 UCLA Bruins.
Now, South Carolina was the defending national champion. They were ranked No. 1. People expected them to go out there and do what they always do. Instead, UCLA put on a clinic. The Bruins didn't just win; they controlled the game. They beat South Carolina 77-62.
It was a shocker. 15 points! For a team that rarely loses by one point, a double-digit loss was like a glitch in the Matrix. UCLA used their length and speed to disrupt the Gamecocks' rhythm. It was a wake-up call that Dawn Staley actually mentioned helped them focus for the rest of that year.
The Caitlin Clark Factor (Final Four 2023)
We can't talk about who beat South Carolina women's basketball without mentioning the one that still hurts for a lot of fans in Columbia. The 2023 Final Four.
South Carolina entered that game 36-0. They had Aliyah Boston. They had the "Freshies" grown up into superstars. They were the heavy favorites to repeat as champions. Then they ran into the Caitlin Clark supernova.
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Clark dropped 41 points on the best defense in the country. It was one of those legendary performances where you just have to tip your cap. Iowa won 77-73, ending South Carolina’s 42-game winning streak.
It changed the trajectory of the program in a weird way. It made them hungrier. If they don't lose that game, maybe they don't go on the tear they've been on since. Staley has often said that "the game gives back what you put into it," and that loss was a massive lesson in humility and perimeter defense.
How Rare Is a South Carolina Loss, Really?
To put it into perspective, South Carolina's record over the last three or four seasons is bordering on the absurd. Since the start of the 2022 season, they have lost maybe... four or five games? Total.
Think about that. They play 30+ games a year against the best competition in the SEC and the country. Most teams lose five games in a bad month.
When you look at who beat South Carolina women's basketball, you notice a pattern. It’s almost always a top-10 team. It’s almost always a game where a superstar player (like Harmon, Clark, or the UCLA collective) plays the game of their life.
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Why they are so hard to beat:
- The Bench Depth: Even if you shut down Chloe Kitts or Raven Johnson, someone like MiLaysia Fulwiley comes off the bench and drops 20. It's exhausting.
- The Rebounding: They usually out-rebound opponents by double digits. You don't get second chances against them, but they get plenty against you.
- Dawn Staley: She’s arguably the best in the business at mid-game adjustments.
What’s Next for the Gamecocks?
Look, a loss to Texas in November isn't the end of the world. In fact, if history tells us anything, it usually just pisses them off.
After that loss to Texas, the Gamecocks went on another tear, beating teams like Louisville and Alabama to climb back up the rankings. By January 2026, they were already sitting at 17-1 and looking like the team to beat in the SEC once again.
If you're a betting person, don't bet against them in March. They've shown time and time again that they learn more from their losses than their wins.
Actionable Takeaways for Following the Gamecocks:
- Watch the Perimeter: When South Carolina loses, it’s usually because an opposing guard (like Rori Harmon or Caitlin Clark) gets hot from outside. Keep an eye on their defensive rotations against elite shooters.
- Check the Schedule: Their biggest tests always come in the SEC/ACC Challenge or neutral-site tournaments. That's where the "giants" get tested.
- Follow the Freshman: Dawn Staley is a master at recruiting. The players beating teams today were the top recruits two years ago. Watching the bench development is the best way to predict their future success.
The reality is that who beat South Carolina women's basketball is a very exclusive club. It takes a perfect game, a bit of luck, and usually a buzzer-beater to get it done.