Texas Routs South Carolina to Win First Women's SEC Tournament Title

Texas routed South Carolina 78-61 to capture its first SEC tournament title.

Texas maintained a double-digit lead throughout the final, signaling a dominant performance that interrupted South Carolina’s three-year run of tournament wins.

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ESPN described the victory succinctly, noting that Texas 'defeated No. 3 South Carolina 78-61 to win its first SEC tournament title, never letting the lead fall below double digits,' and calling the win a clear shift in the conference tournament pecking order.

Madison Booker was named tournament MVP after a standout offensive showing.

She scored 18 points in the final and averaged 20 points across Texas’s three wins while shooting an efficient 61%.

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ESPN highlighted Booker’s scoring burst in the championship game, noting she “added 14 second-half points on 6-of-11 shooting.”

Coach Vic Schaefer framed the victory as the product of focus and purpose, saying his team was "here on a mission."

ESPN noted Schaefer's prior SEC tournament success, referencing that he previously won the tournament at Mississippi State in 2019, underscoring his pedigree in postseason conference play.

For South Carolina, the loss represented a sharp reversal: ESPN reported the Gamecocks "looked physically and mentally tired" and that the 17-point defeat was their worst SEC tournament loss since 2011.

Coach Dawn Staley suggested the defeat could become a motivating moment that galvanizes the team for the NCAA tournament.

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Implications heading into the NCAA tournament are clear: both Texas and South Carolina remain projected No. 1 seeds.

ESPN suggested Texas may be peaking at the right time after its SEC tournament sweep, positioning the Longhorns as a team to watch as national postseason play begins.

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