UConn Pulls Plug on Rivalry with South Carolina — Analyst Weighs In on Shocking Schedule Snub
One of women’s college basketball’s most anticipated annual showdowns is taking a break — and fans are asking why.
For the first time since the 2014-15 season, UConn and South Carolina will not meet during the 2025-26 regular season, ending an 11-year streak of high-stakes clashes between the two powerhouse programs. A UConn source confirmed the cancellation to CT Insider, leaving many stunned by the absence of what had become a marquee nonconference rivalry.
College hoops analyst Chelsea Sherrod addressed the surprising development during a recent appearance on The Hoops Cap podcast, where she offered potential explanations for the scheduling change — even though the exact reason remains unclear.
“There’s a lot of different mixes or mix-ups to this schedule,” Sherrod said (Timestamp: 4:17). “So maybe it could just be, ‘Let’s just do something a little bit different.’”
Sherrod emphasized that both Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma, known for building championship-caliber teams, likely value head-to-head competition at the highest level.
“I feel like especially for Dawn and Geno, they would want to play each other,” Sherrod added. “Because they’re like, you know, ‘We want to be the best — you have to beat the best.’”
Without a regular-season meeting, the only chance fans might see UConn and South Carolina face off again will be in the NCAA Tournament next March or April.
A Storied Rivalry on Pause
Over the past 11 seasons, UConn and South Carolina have clashed 16 times, with the Huskies leading the series 11-5. Most recently, UConn defeated South Carolina twice in the 2024-25 season, including a dominant 82-59 win in the national championship on April 6 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
UConn’s 2025-26 Schedule Still Loaded
Despite dropping South Carolina from its slate, UConn’s nonconference schedule is still stacked.
The defending national champions will travel to Ramstein Air Base in Germany to face Louisville on Nov. 4, and continue a home-and-home series against Ohio State. They’ll also participate in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase, taking on Utah (Nov. 21) and either Michigan or Syracuse (Nov. 23).
Other marquee nonconference games include:
- South Florida (Dec. 3 in Tampa)
- Iowa in the Women’s Champions Classic (Dec. 20 at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn)
- Plus upcoming matchups against Tennessee, Notre Dame, and the USC Trojans — with dates still to be announced.
Although the UConn–South Carolina rivalry is on hold, the Huskies are still making sure their schedule is packed with top-tier competition — even if it means fans will have to wait until March Madness to see the Gamecocks and Huskies battle once again.