After a heated NCAA women’s basketball matchup, Texas head coach Vic Schaefer ignited major controversy by suggesting the NCAA should consider limiting South Carolina fan attendance at neutral-site games. His remarks came after South Carolina’s dominant 64-45 win over Texas in the SEC Tournament championship, which took place at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville—just 100 miles from the Gamecocks’ campus. Schaefer described the environment as more of a “road game” than a neutral-site contest, claiming the heavily pro-South Carolina crowd made it unfair for Texas.
His comments sparked backlash across the women’s basketball community. Fans of South Carolina, analysts, and commentators criticized Schaefer for trying to shift blame from his team’s performance to crowd dynamics. Critics pointed out that South Carolina simply outplayed Texas, regardless of who was in the stands. Statistics supported that claim: the Longhorns struggled offensively, shooting just 29.6% from the field, while being outscored in the paint and lagging behind in assists.
South Carolina’s head coach, Dawn Staley, did not stay silent. She fired back strongly in a postgame press conference, calling Schaefer’s remarks dismissive of her players’ hard work and preparation. Staley emphasized that her team earned their win through discipline, execution, and grit, not crowd advantage. She added that fans are part of the sport and shouldn’t be blamed for a team’s shortcomings.
This fiery exchange has since fueled wider discussions around fairness in tournament locations and the role of fan presence, especially when teams like South Carolina travel with passionate followings.
