Although 1974-75 was the first season as an athletic department sponsored-sport at South Carolina, women’s basketball has had a presence on campus since 1922. The Gamecocks competed as an independent starting in the 1974-75 season, then advanced to the Metro Conference in 1983, and on to the Southeastern Conference in 1991. Since their affiliation began with the NCAA in 1981, the Gamecocks have qualified for the NCAA Tournament eight times. The 2001-02 team made a program-best run to the NCAA Elite Eight where the Gamecocks narrowly lost to Duke. Nine Gamecock squads have finished among the nation’s top 25in season-ending polls. The 1980team reached the AIAW Final Four and won the NWIT championship on the way to atop-five ranking in the final poll. Four former players, Sheila Foster, Shannon Foster, Martha Parker and Katrina Anderson, have been inducted into the University of South Carolina Hall of Fame, and three of those inductees, Sheila Foster, Shannon Foster and Parker, have their jerseys retired.

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The Dodie Rice Athletics Center Williams-Brice Stadium