The No. 2-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks have taken their first loss of the season. A month into the 2025–26 NCAA campaign, their dominant run had many believing this team was untouchable, until the Texas Longhorns delivered a reality check. Yet despite the setback, Dawn Staley isn’t letting one game disrupt the program’s long-term plans.

According to reports, the Gamecocks are expected to participate in the Players Era Tournament for the next two years, signaling a continued commitment to high-stakes, NIL-driven early-season competition. If true, the tournament offers both national visibility and financial upside, which can be beneficiary for both the players and the programs they play for.

But for now, the team must return their focus back on the ongoing tournament, so that they can learn from their mistakes in the recent game and come back stronger if they plan to win this year’s championship.

This is a developing story..