COLUMBIA, S.C. — Whether you're in Dallas or Columbia, the South Carolina Gamecocks are hosting two events for their "FAMS" for Friday's Final Four game.
The university announced on the Gamecock women's basketball Twitter account that there will be a pep rally/team sendoff a the Adolphus Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m. Central, 6:30 p.m. Eastern. The school says a line will begin outside the hotel after the Carolina band. Cheerleaders and Cocky are expected to be there as well.
Then back in Columbia, the school is encouraging fans to go to Liberty Tap Room at 9 p.m. Eastern for the watch party. Liberty is located in Columbia's Vista at 828 Gervais Street.
The Gamecocks are taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes at 9 p.m. Friday at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas in the national semifinal game. If the Gamecocks win, they'd play in the national championship game which is set for 3 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, also at American Airlines Center.
The Hawkeyes are led by Caitlin Clark, who just won the Naismith and AP National Player of the Year Awards. USC, however, has last year's national player of the year and two-time Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Aliyah Boston. On Wednesday, Gamecocks Head Coach Dawn Staley was named the Naismith National Coach of the Year.
USC (36-0) is seeking their second consecutive national championship and third overall in program history, all coming in the last six years. They also could be the 10th women's team to go undefeated and the first to do so since 2016. Staley could also get her third title as coach, tying her for second most among active coaches.