How Dawn Staley, South Carolina WBB are adding a game even as schedule appears full

South Carolina women’s basketball has played 29 regular-season games in each of its last three seasons.

As of Tuesday, USC has announced 12 non-conference games and 16 SEC games for the 2024-25 season. With the Clemson game — which a Tigers spokesperson confirmed to The State is happening — still to be announced, that puts the Gamecocks at 29 already.

So why did Staley post a social media callout on X Friday night seeking an opponent for another home-and-home agreement — and then follow up Tuesday to say she found one?

“Really sorry I have to resort to this but-we need a game,” Staley wrote Friday. “I’ve had some nice, funny and outlandish convos regarding scheduling a game H/H with a guarantee and guaranteed a great student-athlete experience (heart, smiling face emoji)-any interest please let me know. Need to finish this schedule (prayer hands emoji).”

According to NCAA Division I bylaws (section 17.4.5.2), schools must form their basketball schedules in compliance with one of the following options:

“(a) 28 contests (games or scrimmages) and one qualifying regular-season multiple-team event per Bylaw 17.4.5.2.1 that does not exceed three contests per team;

“(b) 29 contests (games or scrimmages) and one qualifying regular-season multiple-team event (see Bylaw 17.4.5.2.1) that does not exceed two contests per team; or

“(c) 29 contests (games or scrimmages) during a playing season in which the institution does not participate in a qualifying regular-season multiple-team event.”

The Gamecocks’ participation in the 2024 Fort Myers Tip-Off — which has USC playing Iowa State Nov. 28 and Purdue Nov. 30 — likely qualifies them for NCAA rules option (b). This means USC could schedule 29 games in addition to the Thanksgiving tournament.

Because the games in South Florida seemingly count as a separate event, South Carolina has technically only announced 10 non-conference games. This puts USC’s official total at 26 games.

With the Clemson game (being played at Clemson), that makes 27. USC’s exhibition at Memphis, first reported by the Commercial Appeal, does not count toward the regular season total. Staley’s callout sought No. 28, meaning the Gamecocks still have room for one more.

She confirmed in an X post Tuesday that while the paperwork is still being finalized, the Gamecocks were able to secure an agreement with an unnamed HBCU through last week’s callout.

“When going to the peeps here on this app allows you to converse with great people and get options to complete schedules WINNING….we gotta game yall,” Staley wrote. “Paperwork is not complete but we are good for it! I love my HBCUs! (three heart, smiling face emojis) Thank you all for reaching out! Love up!”

South Carolina and Bowling Green entered into an agreement last year to play at BGSU in 2023 and at USC during the 2024-25 season, according to documents obtained by The State. But BGSU announced its 2024-25 schedule Wednesday, which did not include USC.

Staley’s Friday callout comes after she talked about struggling to assemble a schedule earlier in the offseason.

“It’s really hard because people don’t want to play us,” Staley said in May on 107.5 The Game. “And, I mean, really good teams don’t want to play. And I just, I don’t get it.”

South Carolina’s original opponent for the 2024-25 season opener in Las Vegas was Oregon State. The Gamecocks defeated the Beavers 70-58 in the Elite 8 on March 31.

USC signed a deal Jan. 25 with Position Sports, which owns and operates the Naismith Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner signed the agreement on April 22, while Position Sports leader Marc Steigerwalt signed it the next day.

On May 2, Tanner signed an amendment to the original contract establishing Michigan as USC’s new opponent. Steigerwalt signed it May 3.

South Carolina women’s basketball 2024-25 schedule:

Below are the known games as of Aug. 13:

• Exhibition: Oct. 15 at Memphis

• Nov. 4: vs Michigan in Las Vegas

• Nov. 10: vs. N.C. State in Charlotte

• Nov. 24: at UCLA

• Nov. 28-30: Fort Myers Tip-Off (vs. Iowa State, Purdue)

• Feb. 16: vs. UConn

• Nov. 17: vs. East Carolina

• Dec. 5: vs. Duke (ACC/SEC Challenge)

• Dec. 8: vs. TCU in Fort Worth, Texas

• Dec. 15: vs. USF

• Dec. 19: vs. Charleston Southern

• Dec. 29: vs. Wofford

• TBD: at Clemson

• TBD: vs. unnamed opponent

• SEC (home): Texas, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Kentucky

• SEC (away): Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee, Vanderbilt