Another fixture for the UNC women’s basketball program’s 2026-27 season took shape Thursday morning. The Tar Heels announced they will take on perennial power South Carolina in the 2026 Ally Tipoff at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte next fall.

UNC and South Carolina have met frequently in recent seasons. The game in Charlotte will be the fourth official meeting between the two programs since head coach Courtney Banghart arrived in Chapel Hill prior to the 2019-20 season. The two teams also faced off in an exhibition game last month. The Gamecocks won all three of the official games and the exhibition. UNC hasn’t beaten South Carolina since upsetting the Gamecocks in the 2014 NCAA Tournament.

UNC’s meeting with South Carolina is the second 2026-27 game to be confirmed. Last week, the program announced it would open the season in Paris, facing Oklahoma in the annual “Oui Play” event at the Adidas Arena.

The Ally Tipoff in Charlotte is one of the premier early-season events for women’s basketball, annually showcasing some of the top programs from around the country. Over the next five years, NC State, Kentucky, USC and UConn are all scheduled to compete in the event. A date for the 2026 game has not been finalized. Fans can learn more about the Ally Tipoff on its website by clicking here.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Ben McKeown

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