One of the best stories from this tournament – for both the men and women – was the perseverance of the NC State Wolfpack. Friday’s opening game of the Women’s Final Four pits the underdog Wolfpack against the nation’s only undefeated team, Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks. The Gamecocks are heavy favorites both in this matchup and in the chances of the outright winner of the title game.
But we have a twist for you in our expert picks. And speaking of choices, if you’re looking for a betting angle on this game, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got our women’s college basketball team analysis, odds, score predictions, players to watch, and how to tune into the game.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Gamecocks vs. the Wolfpack ahead of Friday night.
From our Final Four preview:
Aziha James joked Sunday in Portland that no one knew her name when she came to North Carolina State from Virginia Beach, Va., as a true freshman two years ago. “But you know my name now,” she playfully told reporters. “So you’ve seen how much I’ve grown.”
NC State was picked to finish eighth in the ACC this season. None of his players were named to the preseason All-ACC team.
James has now led them to the Final Four for the first time since 1998. She saved her best basketball for last and has been a true superstar for the Wolfpack in this tournament, scoring at least 22 points in each of her last three games. She dropped 29 and a logo 3 when NC State beat No. 2 seed Stanford in the Sweet 16, then casually added 27 more points Sunday against No. 1 Texas. She looks confident, loose and downright out of control at the moment.
But South Carolina has some big-time guards of its own, in addition to one of the game’s most dominant post players, 6-foot-7 center Kamilla Cardoso.
Aside from Caitlin Clark, Te-Hina Paopao might be Cleveland’s most dangerous 3-point shooter. She makes 46.3 percent of long-range attempts, which ranks second in the country. The Gamecocks are so deep that freshman MiLaysia Fulwiley, their second-leading scorer, isn’t even a starter.
If we assume both teams’ guards will have their moments, it looks like this matchup will come down to who’s better down low. NC State forward River Baldwin will likely take charge for Cardoso. She and the Wolfpack already competed well against Stanford’s Cameron Brink in the Sweet 16, but Cardoso could be an even more imposing challenge.
South Carolina’s bench will also pose a major challenge for the Wolfpack. The Gamecocks are built for March, averaging nearly 34 points per game on their reserves.
—Grace Raynor and Sabreena Merchant
Why South Carolina can win it:
South Carolina doesn’t have many weaknesses, but if a team can come close, they’ll either have to have a good night from beyond the arc (hitting more than 13 3-pointers, at Indiana), or have an individual match. nightmare for the Gamecocks (like Utah’s Alissa Pili) or making the Gamecocks suffer a shooting night (like they did against Tennessee in the SEC semifinals). The Wolfpack average six 3-pointers per game. NC State’s backcourt is excellent, as is South Carolina. This won’t be the game to face undefeated South Carolina. Take: South Carolina 76, North Carolina State 65
—Chantel Jennings
Why NC State can win it:
NC State’s guard trio is unlike any other South Carolina has faced thus far. It’s dynamic in transition, precise when the game slows down, and too fast to contain one-on-one. The Wolfpack bends defense in unique ways, and they can all play together in small formations thanks to the physicality of Madison Hayes and Mimi Collins. The Gamecocks are heavy favorites, but the Wolfpack won’t turn the ball over and get beat on the offensive glass, and their wings can produce a high volume of 3s. This seems like a recipe for an upset. Take: North Carolina State 73, South Carolina 71
—Merchant Sabreena
How to watch South Carolina vs. NC State
What: Final square
Time of denunciation: 7 p.m. ET Friday
TV: ESPN
Location: Cleveland
You can buy tickets for any tournament match here.
Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox. Register
Free daily sports updates straight to your inbox. Register
Buy
South Carolina vs. NC State odds
The chances are PariMGM and live update.
Expert Picks
Get these experts’ predictions for South Carolina’s final score against NC State.
South Carolina vs. NC State Score Projection
Austin Mock Screening: Our “numbers guy,” Austin Mock, uses advanced statistical models and simulations to project each team’s chances of advancing to each round of the tournament. Based on 1 million simulations of the 2024 Women’s NCAA Tournament, here is our projected score:
- Projected point spread: South Carolina wins by 13
- Projected total: 138.5 points
- Projected score: South Carolina 75.8, North Carolina State 62.8
Players to watch
Caroline from the south
- Kamilla Cardoso, senior center, SEC defensive player of the year, first team All-SEC
- Raven Johnson, second-year guard, second team All-SEC
- Te-Hina Paopao, senior guard, second team All-SEC
- Ashlyn Watkins, sophomore forward, second team All-SEC
NC State
- Asiaha James, junior guard, first team All-ACC
- Saniya Rivers, junior guard, first team All-ACC
More NCAA basketball tournament coverage
(Photo by Kamilla Cardoso and Raven Johnson: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)