South Carolina Women’s Basketball Faces Winthrop and Queens in Buy Games

The South Carolina women’s basketball team, led by coach Dawn Staley, is gearing up for a week that should be pretty fun. They’ll take on mid-major opponents in a pair of “buy games” at Colonial Life Arena.

The No. 2 Gamecocks will host Winthrop and Queens (NC). These games give South Carolina a good shot at easy wins and also bring in some money for the visiting schools.

Contracts obtained by The State show both sides get something out of the deal. Smaller programs rely on these payouts to help with their athletic budgets.

Let’s get into the details of these matchups and what they might mean for everyone involved.

Understanding Buy Games in College Basketball

In college basketball, a buy game happens when a big-name program pays a smaller school to come play a one-off game at their place. It’s a pretty common thing and, honestly, both sides usually walk away happy enough.

The Financial Aspect

For South Carolina, these games often mean a win and some extra revenue from tickets and concessions. The mid-major schools, on the other hand, get a solid check for showing up.

For example, South Carolina football is paying Coastal Carolina $1.4 million for an upcoming matchup. The men’s basketball team recently paid Presbyterian $95,000 for a game at Colonial Life Arena.

This time, the South Carolina women’s team will pay Winthrop $25,000 and Queens $25,000. For those schools, that’s a big deal—money that goes straight into keeping their athletic departments afloat and maybe even building for the future.

South Carolina vs. Winthrop: A Decade in the Making

South Carolina and Winthrop haven’t played each other in ten years. The last meeting was in 2015, and South Carolina leads the all-time series 8-5.

They haven’t actually lost to Winthrop since 1978. That’s a pretty long streak.

Winthrop’s Season So Far

Winthrop is based in Rock Hill and plays in the Big South conference. They’ve started this season 2-2, including a tough opening loss to Marquette.

Last year, Winthrop finished with a winning record for the first time since 2014-15. Their last NCAA tournament trip was in 2014, so they’re hoping to build on that momentum.

South Carolina will give Winthrop 75 free tickets for the game. The $25,000 payment is due by March 31, 2026, according to the contract.

South Carolina vs. Queens: A Historic Matchup

South Carolina’s game against Queens on Sunday stands out because it’s only the second time these schools have played each other. The first meeting was way back in 1979, when Queens was still called Queens College.

South Carolina won that game 103-55, which is wild to think about.

Queens’ Transition to Division I

Queens just finished the jump to Division I this July, so they’re now fully eligible for NCAA postseason play. They’re in the Atlantic Sun conference, went 10-19 last season, and are 2-2 so far this year.

This will be Queens’ first game against a high-major team this season. South Carolina will pay them $25,000, with the check due before April 1, 2026, and throw in 100 free tickets as well.

The Broader Impact of Buy Games

Buy games play a big role in college sports. Smaller programs get some much-needed cash, while bigger schools get home games they’re likely to win.

In 2024, South Carolina paid out a total of $2.62 million in competition guarantees. That’s not pocket change, and it shows how important these deals are in college athletics.