COLUMBIA, S.C. — Super Bowl Sunday didn't stop fans from selling out Colonial Life Arena for number one-ranked South Carolina women's basketball.
"I mean, if we miss the beginning of the Super Bowl, then we miss it. This is more important," Megan Spiehs said.
While others prepped for big football game plans, thousands of basketball fans faced the rain on Sunday for the University of South Carolina women's basketball game. Colonial Life Arena has 18,000 seats for basketball games, and just hours before the game, every single ticket was sold.
"We love women's basketball. We've supported the gamecocks through all of the final fours. We've come to all of their home games, especially against Connecticut they're rivalries now," Patricia Boswell Glasgow said.
"If I could be in Colonial Life Arena right now, I would be. South Carolina sports beat any national any day of the week," USC student Carsen Malloy said.
In addition to excitement for two big games in one day, fans were also excited about the eyes on the Gamecocks. Fans are rooting for not one but two top-ranked teams. As of Saturday night, the South Carolina men's team was tied for number one in the conference.
"I have been obsessed with both of our basketball teams for years," Malloy said. "Dawn Staley is one of my favorite women in the whole wide world. I have tickets to the LSU game next week; I'm so excited to see our Gamecocks play."
"That is amazing. I am so happy for the men," Boswell Glasgow said. "It seems like they worked so hard, and now that recognition that hard work pays off. It's just great for the state of South Carolina."
"MiLaysia and her team are gonna win," one fan yelled.
South Carolina men's basketball plays Louisiana State University in its next game on Saturday.
