All Eyes on Baton Rouge: South Carolina-LSU Showdown Draws ESPN's "College GameDay"
There’s no shortage of storylines heading into the Feb. 14 clash between South Carolina and LSU women’s basketball-and ESPN knows it. That’s why College GameDay is packing up and heading to Baton Rouge for what’s shaping up to be one of the marquee matchups of the season.
We’ve got two top-five teams, a national stage, and a whole lot of history. South Carolina, ranked No. 3, will step into the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to face the No. 5 LSU Tigers in a game that’s not just about standings-it's about pride, legacy, and a little bit of revenge.
Fulwiley Returns-In a Different Jersey
One of the most intriguing subplots? MiLaysia Fulwiley.
The electric guard, who began her college career at South Carolina, is now suiting up for LSU after transferring in the offseason. She’s coming off the bench but making a major impact, averaging 14.1 points per game and bringing her signature flair to Kim Mulkey’s rotation.
This will be her first time facing her former team-and it’s happening under the brightest of lights.
A Rivalry South Carolina Has Owned
Let’s talk dominance: South Carolina has won the last 17 meetings against LSU. Under head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks are 18-5 against the Tigers and have turned what was once a back-and-forth rivalry into a one-sided streak. But LSU isn’t just any team-they’re the reigning national champions, and they’ve got the firepower to make this one interesting.
Last season, South Carolina handed LSU its first loss of the year with a 66-56 win in Columbia. The two didn’t meet again in the SEC tournament, but the message was clear: the Gamecocks still had the upper hand.
The year before that? South Carolina walked into Baton Rouge and came out with a 76-70 win during their perfect 38-0 national championship season.
And while the all-time series is close-South Carolina leads just 21-22-it’s been all Gamecocks in the Staley era.
GameDay’s Baton Rouge Return
College GameDay making the trip only adds to the spectacle. The show will air live starting at 8 p.m.
ET ahead of the 8:30 p.m. tipoff on ABC. Hosts Andraya Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, and newcomer Christine Williamson will be on set, with Williamson stepping in this season following Elle Duncan’s departure to Netflix.
This isn’t the first time GameDay has spotlighted this matchup. The show was scheduled to visit Columbia for the 2024-25 edition, but weather delays forced a cancellation.
Instead, they pivoted to a South Carolina-UConn game, where the Huskies handed the Gamecocks a rare loss. Back in 2023-24, GameDay was in Baton Rouge for this very matchup-South Carolina won that one too, en route to their undefeated title run.
Mulkey vs. Staley: A Heavyweight Coaching Duel
Let’s not overlook the sideline battle. Kim Mulkey and Dawn Staley are two of the most decorated coaches in the game today.
Mulkey took over LSU in the 2021-22 season and wasted no time-by 2023, she had delivered a national title, knocking off Iowa in the championship game. That same Iowa team had eliminated South Carolina in the Final Four just days earlier.
Now, both teams are back in the national spotlight, stacked with talent, and eyeing another deep March run. But before the madness begins, we get this midseason measuring stick-a clash that could shake up the SEC standings and send a message to the rest of the country.
What’s at Stake?
For South Carolina, it’s about maintaining dominance and keeping their win streak alive against a high-powered rival. For LSU, it’s a shot at redemption, a chance to reassert themselves as the top dog in the SEC, and maybe even close the chapter on that 17-game losing streak.
One thing’s for sure: Baton Rouge will be rocking, the cameras will be rolling, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Circle the date-Feb. 14. This one’s going to be special.