The official start to No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball's 2026-27 season is almost here.

Coach Dawn Staley begins her 19th season with the Gamecocks in Paris, as they play No. 17 Maryland on Nov. 2 (noon ET, ESPN). It's part of the Oui-Play women's college basketball doubleheader at Adidas Arena, with Oklahoma vs North Carolina after - two teams Staley will play this season.

No. 1 ranked South Carolina had two exhibition games already, securing a 91-60 win over College of Charleston on Sept. 27 and a 113-34 win vs Benedict on Oct. 23.

Staley carries a full 15-player roster this season, highlighted by the return of fifth-year forwards Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts, who both missed last season.

The Gamecocks have been to the last six Final Fours and last three national championships though they've lost the last two. Most recently, they fell 79-51 to UCLA on April 5.

Staley lost four players this offseason, three to the WNBA and one to professional basketball overseas, but was the only SEC women's basketball coach who didn't see a player enter the transfer portal. She brought in Jordan Lee from Texas and signed the No. 2 ranked high school class.

South Carolina's non-conference schedule features eight games against teams ranked in the preseason Top 25.

See the full South Carolina schedule below.

South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 schedule

All games are in Eastern Standard Time

• Nov. 2: vs. Maryland in Paris, France (noon, ESPN, neutral site game)

• Nov. 8: vs North Carolina in Charlotte (5:30 p.m., ESPN, neutral site)

• Nov. 12: at Clemson (7 p.m., ESPN2)

• Nov. 15: vs. Southern Cal in Greenville (1 p.m., ABC, neutral site)

• Nov. 17: vs Florida Gulf Coast (7 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Nov. 21: at Providence (1:30 p.m., Peacock)

• Nov. 24: vs. UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (8 p.m., FS1, neutral site)

• Nov. 28: vs Tennessee State (2:30 p.m., SEC Network+, PowHER Player Classic)

• Nov. 29: championship game for PowHER Player Classic (12/2:30 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Dec. 3: at Duke (7 p.m., ESPN, ACC-SEC Challenge)

• Dec. 6: vs. Oklahoma State (4 p.m., ABC)

• Dec. 12: vs. Wofford (noon, SEC Network+)

• Dec. 16: vs Albany (7 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Dec. 19: vs. UCLA (8:30 p.m., ESPN, Player's Era Tournament in Las Vegas)

• Dec. 20: vs. Notre Dame (7:30 p.m., ESPN, Player's Era Tournament in Las Vegas)

• Dec. 28: vs Gardner-Webb (6 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Dec. 31 vs Alabama (7 p.m., SEC Network)

• Jan. 3 at Texas (3 p.m., ABC)

• Jan. 7 at Mississippi State (7 p.m., SEC Network)

• Jan. 10 vs Arkansas (4 p.m., SEC Network)

• Jan. 14 vs Oklahoma (7:30 p.m., ESPN)

• Jan. 17 at Missouri (4 p.m., SEC Network)

• Jan. 21 vs. Florida (7 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Jan. 28 at Tennessee (6:30 p.m., SEC Network)

• Jan. 31 vs Kentucky (3 p.m., ESPN)

• Feb. 4 at Vanderbilt (7 p.m., ESPN)

• Feb. 8 at Oklahoma (7 p.m., ESPN2)

• Feb. 11 vs. Texas A&M (6 p.m., SEC Network)

• Feb. 14 at Ole Miss (1 p.m., ESPNU)

• Feb. 21 vs LSU (3 p.m., ABC)

• Feb. 25 vs Auburn (7 p.m., SEC Network+)

• Feb. 28 at Georgia (noon, SEC Network)