Oklahoma State wanted a true home-and-home with South Carolina. It’s not going to get one.
The Cowgirls’ two-game agreement with the Gamecocks begins Dec. 6 in Columbia, S.C., and that opener already has a big-time spotlight: ABC at 3 p.m. That part makes sense.
South Carolina, under Dawn Staley, has become one of the sport’s heavyweights, with three national championships and appearances in each of the last six Final Fours. Oklahoma State is trying to climb into that tier, and Jacie Hoyt made clear she wanted the challenge for her team in non-conference play.
The wrinkle comes with the return trip. Even though game contracts of this type are typically built as home-and-homes, Hoyt said during preseason media day that the second meeting will not be on campus in Stillwater. Instead, it will likely land in either Tulsa or Oklahoma City.
“We really wanted South Carolina to come as a true home-and-home for us,” she said. “That was just not something they felt comfortable with for whatever reason. I don't know because honestly, and I haven't been in those conversations.”
Hoyt said she has not talked with anyone on South Carolina’s coaching staff, adding that third-party people are now helping arrange those kinds of games.
The arena size difference doesn’t seem to explain the decision. South Carolina plays at Colonial Life Arena, which seats 18,000 for basketball and is the largest arena in the state.
Oklahoma State’s Gallagher-Iba Arena holds 13,611. Still, attendance at a neutral site wouldn’t be an issue either way.
South Carolina’s 2024 neutral-site game against TCU in Fort Worth drew 8,004 at Dickies Arena, a matchup that featured star power on both sides, including TCU’s Hailey Van Lith and South Carolina’s Milaysia Fulwiley. In that game, South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins dunked for the third time in her collegiate career.
Oklahoma State also has another major neutral-site game on the schedule: Bedlam against Oklahoma on Dec. 12 in Oklahoma City at the Paycom Center, which seats 18,203 for basketball. If the South Carolina return game ends up in Tulsa, it would likely be at the BOK Center, which holds 17,839 for basketball.
Hoyt said she would have preferred the game in Stillwater, but she sounds confident the crowd will come either way.
“I wish it was here on our home floor, to be able to play that game in front of our fans,” she said. “But I'm also really optimistic that our fans will travel to Tulsa or Oklahoma City or wherever that may be.”
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