Carolina blue bloods collide under the glow of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday.
No. 3 North Carolina State enjoyed a sparkling campaign in 2023-24, vanquishing seven ranked foes during the regular season, including No. 2 UConn and No. 3 Colorado, before embarking on a scintillating run to the Final Four. Wes Moore’s side has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks. Now, it finds itself on the brink of an appearance in the national title game, the first in program history.
WOMEN’S MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket news | TV schedule
Just one thing stands in the Wolfpack’s way: No. 1 overall seed South Carolina. The Gamecocks are a buzzsaw, having throttled 107 of their past 110 opponents. Dawn Staley’s squad has been faultless so far this campaign, racking up 36 consecutive wins en route to yet another Final Four.
South Carolina looks to become the 10th team in women’s college basketball history to have an unbeaten season. History beckons in the distance for the Gamecocks, who possess the nation’s most complete side — best reflected by the fact that South Carolina averages a country-best 33.9 points per game off the bench.
Kamilla Cardoso, Raven Johnson, and Bree Hall are just a few of the gifted talents set to grace the floor in garnet. They should pose quite the challenge for the Wolfpack, a side blessed with harrowing presences of their own, including standout guards Aziaha James and Saniya Rivers.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates from the Final Four clash between NC State and South Carolina. Follow below for highlights and more as two of the nation’s biggest programs compete under the bright lights for a chance at glory.
STREAM: Watch NC State vs. South Carolina live with Sling TV
NC State vs. South Carolina score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| NC State | 16 | 15 | 6 | x | x |
| South Carolina | 16 | 14 | 29 | x | x |
NC State vs. South Carolina live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Women’s Final Four
(All times Eastern)
8:39 p.m.: Watkins is up to 19 rebounds on the day. What a showcase on the boards for the sophomore star.
8:35 p.m.: South Carolina interestingly opens up the fourth-quarter in a zone defense. Perhaps practicing ahead of the Gamecocks’ prospective matchup in the national championship game.
End of third quarter: South Carolina 61, NC State 37
8:29 p.m.: Paopao buries a deep three as the Gamecocks extend their lead beyond the 20-point plateau. Just a game-altering sequence from South Carolina, who put its foot on the throats of the Wolfpack during the third quarter.
8:24 p.m.: The Gamecocks are starting to put some distance between themselves and the Wolfpack. Tessa Johnson sinks a three, followed up by a Fulwiley layup after another steal. South Carolina is up 17.
8:12 p.m.: Cardoso is back in this one. And she hasn’t missed a beat, looking composed and refreshed in the early moments of the third. She’s already dished a delicate pass to Watkins for one bucket. Now, she’s nabbed a couple of her own, sinking wide-open layups as SC extends its lead to a game-high 12 points. The Brazilian star has 20 points so far.
Raven Johnson to Kamilla Cardoso for the layup, Gamecocks up 12
NC State timeout pic.twitter.com/p03ADtfLHA
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) April 6, 2024
End of second quarter: South Carolina 32, NC State 31
7:50 p.m.: Impressive bit of skill by Feagin, who displaces her marker before flicking a lefty hook into the basket.
Sania Feagin with the blender! pic.twitter.com/ZwXcMh4RW5
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) April 5, 2024
7:49 p.m.: Collinssinks a pull-up three and this game is tied at 30.
7:48 p.m.: Cardoso had been putting on a virtuoso performance. However, she exited to the locker room after appearing to suffer a lower leg injury. One to watch for as this game goes on.
7:39 p.m.: The Wolfpack aren’t done yet, however. Baldwin races beyond Cardoso to sink a layup. Now, with Cardoso to the bench, they’ll hope to make some magic happen and keep things interesting.
7:38 p.m.: Cardoso has each of South Carolina’s last 10 points. What a first-half showing by the prospective lottery pick, who has been great on both ends. She’s got 14 points and five rebounds so far.
Great job running the floor and getting an early position by Kamilla Cardoso
NC State cannot afford to let this happen pic.twitter.com/MM7sMJr9sl
— Mark Schindler (@MG_Schindler) April 5, 2024
7:34 p.m.: Cardoso is beginning to assert herself in the paint. Has already netted a three successful layups thus far, rising above a weary Baldwin to get to the basket.
End of first quarter: NC State 16, South Carolina 16
7:27 p.m.: Despite surrendering six turnovers in the opening moments, NC State worked its way back into this one. James has been sumptuous, pouring in eight points to spearhead the Wolfpack.
7:16 p.m.: After surrendering an early 5-0 lead, the Wolfpack spring to action. Collins, Baldwin and James spearhead a 10-2 run for NC State.
.@YoungBuc_2021 and the Wolfpack heating up 🔥#WFinalFour x 🎥 ESPN / @PackWomensBball pic.twitter.com/dO0IC9tAex
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 5, 2024
7:11 p.m.: Paopao opens the the scoring with a delicate floater over Baldwin’s outstretched grasp.
7:06 p.m.: And here’s the Wolfpack’s’ starters:
- Saniya Rivers
- Aziaha James
- Madison Hayes
- Mimi Collins
- River Baldwin
7:05 p.m.: The Gamecocks are playing the following starters for Friday’s contest:
- Te-Hina Paopao
- Raven Johnson
- Chloe Kitts
- Bree Hall
- Kamilla Cardoso
6:40 p.m.: Staley looking as elegant as ever, strutting into the contest with a polka dot jacket and her signature parachute joggers.
Ladies & gentlemen: @dawnstaley
For the @GamecockWBB send off!! pic.twitter.com/YE0l3iMcJz
— Beth Hoole (@bethhooleVNL) April 5, 2024
6:30 p.m.: One storyline to watch: Saniya Rivers’ battle against her former team, South Carolina, and former coach, Dawn Staley. Doesn’t seem like there’s any ill will in their relationship, however.
“There’s no beef, I told Coach Staley that I was going to see her again when I left & here we are”
Saniya Rivers told me that she still has great relationships with Dawn Staley and her former teammates & she is excited to face the Gamecocks in the Final Four@WLTX | #Gamecocks pic.twitter.com/sJ8sKs2CFw
— Chandler Mack (@chandlerdmack) April 4, 2024
5:40 p.m.: The Gamecocks are in the building for this one.
Here come the Gamecocks 💪 #WFinalFour x @GamecockWBB pic.twitter.com/jPu2HCbyrh
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 5, 2024
What channel is NC State vs. South Carolina on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: Sling
The Final Four duel between NC State and South Carolina will be broadcast on ESPN. Cord-cutters can live stream the game on Sling.
NC State vs. South Carolina start time
- Date: Friday, April 5
- Time: 7:00 p.m.
The Wolfpack and the Gamecocks clash on Friday, April 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Women’s Final Four schedule 2024
Final Four
Friday, April 5
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 3 NC State | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 3 UConn | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
National championship
Sunday, April 7
| Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | 3:00 p.m. | ABC |
