South Carolina women’s basketball will feature a noticeable new style next season

University Sports Roster Changes

Each year, university sports teams see shifts in their rosters. In college basketball, particularly with the influx of new talent through the transfer portal, it’s common to find multiple new players on each team as the season rolls around.

As we look ahead to the 2026-27 Women’s College basketball season, the South Carolina Gamecocks, who have won three national championships, will present a different lineup.

Of course, there are new faces on the team. But this isn’t solely about who’s wearing the jersey; it’s also about what’s emblazoned on the front.

According to various reports, South Carolina is set to part ways with Under Armour and initiate a new apparel partnership with Nike that will encompass all athletic teams. The current contract with Under Armour will conclude on June 30, 2026. The South Carolina council is expected to meet on Friday morning to finalize the new agreement with Nike.

Initially, South Carolina partnered with Under Armour for a football-specific contract in 2007 before expanding that to include all sports in 2011. It’s interesting to note that South Carolina will be the final school in the SEC to be outfitted by Under Armour, especially following the brand’s recent departure from Auburn. Under Armour continues its partnerships with schools like Notre Dame and Maryland and is set to partner with Georgia Tech in 2026.

This new deal with Nike holds significance for the women’s basketball team for a few reasons.

For one, Nike recently launched the A’ja Wilson Signature Shoes. Wilson, with her statue outside the Colonial Life Arena, is a key figure in the program’s history. Previously, the Gamecocks couldn’t don Wilson’s signature shoes due to their agreement with Under Armour, but now they have the opportunity to wear the gear of some of the best players in their history and take on the SEC with added flair.

Moreover, Dawn Staley, the head coach, has an established relationship with Nike that might get a fresh start. Before A’ja Wilson made waves in the WNBA, Staley had her own signature Nike shoe, the Zoom S5, which was launched in 1998.

“I didn’t really care about how my shoes looked, as long as they were fresh and clean,” Staley shared with ESPN in 2021. “I thought my shoes were pretty stylish. Some of them looked distinctly like women’s shoes, but mine didn’t.”