South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball

Infobox CBB Team
name = South Carolina Gamecocks

logo_size = 100
university = University of South Carolina
conference = Southeastern Conference
conference_short = SEC
division =
city = Columbia
stateabb = SC
state = South Carolina
coach = Dawn Staley
tenure = 1st
arena = Colonial Life Arena
capacity = 18,000
nickname = Gamecocks
color1 = Garnet
color2 = Black
hex1 = 8C2633
hex2 = 000000
fontcolor = ffffff
h_pattern_b=_thinsidesonwhite
h_body=000000
h_shorts=000000
h_pattern_s=_blanksides
a_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides
a_body=000000
a_shorts=000000
a_pattern_s=_whitesides
3_pattern_b=_thinwhitesides
3_body=8C2633
3_shorts=8C2633
3_pattern_s=_whitesides
NCAAchampion =
NCAAfinalfour =
NCAAeliteeight = 2001
NCAAsweetsixteen = 1989
NCAAtourneys = 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2002
conference_tournament = Metro Conference: 1986, 1988, 1989
conference_season = Metro Conference: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

The South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team represents the University of South Carolina and competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team enjoyed its greatest success under head coach Nancy Wilson during the 1980s in the Metro Conference when it won four regular season conference championships and three conference tournament championships. Since 2002, the team plays its home games at the Colonial Life Arena.

History

The first Gamecocks women's basketball team to compete at an intercollegiate level dates back to 1923 when they were called the Pullets. The first varsity team, known as the Carolina Chicks, took to the court in January 1974 under the guidance of Pam Backhaus. The inaugural team compiled a record of 15-7 and were the South Carolina AIAW Champions. In 1977, with Pam Parsons as the head coach the women's basketball team, they changed their nickname to the Lady Gamecocks and made post-season trips every year with her at the helm. However, Parsons was forced to resign when Sports Illustrated published a story, "Stormy Weather at South Carolina", that accused Parson of having a sexual relationship with one of her players. [cite web|title="The Pam Parsons Scandal of 1984 "|url=http://qsaltlake.com/2005/7/williams_ben.shtml] The program enjoyed its greatest run of success when it joined the Metro Conference in 1983. During its eight seasons in the league, the Lady Gamecocks won the regular season championship four times and the conference tournament three times. [cite web|title="South Carolina Women's Basketball History"|url=http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/041802aaj.html] Head Coach Susan Walvius resigned on April 14, 2008 and Dawn Staley was named the new head coach of the Lady Gamecocks on May 7.

Head Coaches

ee also

*South Carolina Gamecocks

Notes and references

External links

* [http://gamecocksonline.cstv.com/ South Carolina Gamecock Athletics]