The South Carolina Gamecocks, fresh off their fifth consecutive SEC regular season title, will face the Kentucky Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday. The matchup, set for noon at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, promises a competitive contest between the top-seeded Gamecocks and the No. 9 seed Wildcats. For fans eager to follow the action, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to watch and listen to the game.
South Carolina (29-2, 15-1 SEC) earned a double bye into the quarterfinals thanks to their dominant regular season performance. Kentucky (21-9, 8-8 SEC) advanced after securing wins against Arkansas (94-64) and Georgia (76-61) in the earlier rounds of the tournament. This will be a rematch of a recent contest, adding another layer of intrigue to the game.
Game Details: South Carolina vs. Kentucky
Who: No. 1 seed South Carolina (29-2) vs. No. 9 seed Kentucky (21-9)
When: Friday, March 6 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, South Carolina
TV: ESPN (Ryan Ruocco, Rebecca Lobo, Holly Rowe)
Stream: ESPN.com or the ESPN app
Radio: 107.5 FM, SiriusXM Channel 106 or 190 (Brad Muller)
How Kentucky Reached the Quarterfinals
Kentucky fought their way to the quarterfinals with a pair of decisive victories. They began their tournament run with a dominant 94-64 win over No. 16 seed Arkansas on Wednesday. They followed that up with a 76-61 victory against No. 9 seed Georgia on Thursday, securing their spot in the quarterfinals against South Carolina.
Key Players to Watch
Kentucky will look to Clara Strack to lead the way. Strack, a key player for the Wildcats, averages 16.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Tonie Morgan (13.9 ppg) and Teonni Key (11 ppg) also contribute significantly to Kentucky’s offense. Morgan also leads the team in assists with 8.2 per game. For South Carolina, all eyes will be on Madina Okot, who has been a consistent force in the post, averaging 21 points and 13 rebounds in their recent matchup against Kentucky.
Both Strack and Morgan earned All-SEC honors this season, with Strack being named to the All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive team, and Morgan earning All-SEC Second Team honors.
Recent Matchup: A Close Contest in Lexington
These two teams recently faced off in Lexington on March 1, 2026, with South Carolina securing a narrow 60-56 victory. The game was particularly challenging for the Gamecocks, marking their lowest point total of the season. A late surge from Kentucky and a cold shooting stretch from South Carolina made for a tense fourth quarter. Okot led South Carolina with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Strack paced Kentucky with 24 points and nine rebounds.
As coach Dawn Staley noted after the game, South Carolina’s struggles were partially due to missed shots and a scramble situation in transition, allowing Kentucky’s Clara Strack to capitalize. Staley also highlighted Strack’s difficult-to-defend skillset, noting her size, length, and ability to score on all three levels.
What to Expect Next
The winner of Friday’s game will advance to the SEC Tournament semifinals. South Carolina, aiming for their sixth consecutive SEC Tournament title, will undoubtedly be looking to improve upon their offensive performance from the previous matchup against Kentucky. The Gamecocks’ resilience and ability to win in various ways, as Staley emphasized, will be crucial as they navigate the tournament.
Be sure to tune in to ESPN or stream the game on ESPN.com to witness this exciting SEC Tournament quarterfinal matchup. Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
