South Carolina Gamecocks Set as 2026-27 Women's Basketball Favorites
The South Carolina program holds a 250 to 1 odds advantage over rivals as the new season begins, following a strong previous year by the UConn Huskies and UCLA Bruins.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
The 2026-27 women's college basketball season opens on Sunday at noon in Rome. The South Carolina Gamecocks enter the campaign as the top-ranked team in the AP preseason poll, positioning them as the primary candidate for the national championship.
South Carolina leads the betting markets with odds of +250 at BetMGM. The Connecticut Huskies serve as the co-favorites, a designation that reflects their consistent performance at the highest level. These two programs have dominated recent tournament play, with South Carolina appearing in four title games since 2022 and winning two. UConn reached the final twice in that same span, claiming the championship two seasons ago by defeating the Gamecocks.
UCLA, the defending champion, currently sits just outside the top ten in the preseason rankings. Their drop in the polls contrasts with the stability of the South Carolina and UConn rosters, both of which have retained their leading scorers for the upcoming year.
The USC Trojans present the most compelling counter-narrative to the established favorites. JuJu Watkins has returned to the lineup after missing the previous season due to injury. Last year, USC reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament without her, relying on freshman guard Jazzy Davidson. With Watkins back on the floor, the team now holds the third-best odds to win the national title.
USC has strengthened its roster further by recruiting Saniyah Hall, the top-ranked high school player in the country. This addition joins an existing core that already featured significant depth. Texas remains the only other program with odds better than 10 to 1, returning All-American Madison Booker, who completed her best collegiate season last year.
Coaches for the top contenders are managing rosters that have remained largely intact. Dawn Staley, the head coach at South Carolina, is credited with maximizing player performance on both ends of the court. The Gamecocks have returned Joyce Edwards, while UConn has kept Sarah Strong. Both teams are relying on experienced role players to support their star athletes as they navigate the conference schedules leading into the tournament.
