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Texas dethrones South Carolina to win the 2026 SEC Championship

Texas women's basketball took on the South Carolina Gamecocks in the SEC Championship this year. Texas didn't want a repeat of last season's defeat and managed to take home the SEC title this afternoon.
ByBrian Sweet|
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Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) is defended by South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) Sunday, March 8, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
Texas Longhorns forward Justice Carlton (11) is defended by South Carolina Gamecocks guard Ta'niya Latson (00) Sunday, March 8, 2026, during the SEC Women's Basketball Tournament Championship game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Today felt like one of the biggest games of the season for Texas women's basketball. It felt more important than when Texas took on UCLA and South Carolina in Vegas earlier this season. The Longhorns have worked so hard to get back to the SEC Championship Game after losing to South Carolina in it last season.

Today, all the hard work paid off as the Longhorns came out of the gate strong and beat South Carolina 78-61 to win their first SEC Conference Championship in program history.

There has been a lot of talk about how Vic Schaefer hasn't risen to the occasion in huge games in the postseason. Well, today's win over South Carolina should put all that talk aside for a while. That was one of the best game plans a coach has ever put together to beat Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. Texas deserves to party after today's win. It is a huge milestone not only for the university but for the women's basketball program.

Here are four takeaways from today's win over South Carolina:

1. Ladies were ready for South Carolina

I think the ladies were a little motivated after what happened last season when the Longhorns lost to them in the SEC Championship game. Texas got out to a 13-0 run before South Carolina even got on the board. That's the kind of start that Texas needed going into today's game. It seems the Longhorns will host another regional again this season as Texas secures its No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

2. Gamecocks felt like the Rebels today

I'm sure the Ole Miss Rebels and the Gamecocks are going to have a co-therapy session after the tournament and talk about how they felt with Texas's defense breathing down their necks. The Longhorns forced ten turnovers by halftime and finished the game with fourteen. Vic Schaefer will be teaching a clinic on forcing turnovers during the offseason at high school coaching clinics across Texas.

3. Largest deficit for Dawn Staley at halftime in a conference tournament game

I have the utmost respect for Dawn Staley and what she's done at South Carolina. However, I did not have Texas handing her the largest halftime deficit in a conference tournament game on my bingo card this afternoon. I thought this was going to be a lot closer of a game. Texas decided that it was tired of the disrespect the media has been giving it this season.

I'm sure the Gamecocks and the Longhorns will run into each other again in the 2026 NCAA Tournament like last year.

4. Secured that No. 1 seed

Lastly, there should be no hesitation when the selection committee puts together the bracket and gives Texas a No. 1 seed. The Longhorns proved all weekend long that they are one of the top teams in the country, and they have definitely earned it after winning the SEC Championship. Now the Longhorns wait until Selection Sunday next week to find out who they will be hosting in Austin.

As Anakin Skywalker said, "This is where the fun begins." Find out where Texas women's basketball ends up in the bracket next weekend.

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