1. South Carolina
Head coach: Dawn Staley
Key player: Junior Guard Tiffany Mitchell
Last year's finish: Lost in NCAA Sweet 16, First in SEC
2. Tennessee
Head coach: Holly Warlick
Key player: Senior Center Isabelle Harrison
Last year's finish: Lost in NCAA Sweet 16, Second in SEC
Gamecocks head-to-head: Feb. 23 at South Carolina
3. Texas A&M
Head coach: Gary Blair
Key player: Junior Guard Courtney Walker
Last year's finish: Lost in NCAA Elite Eight, Third in SEC
Gamecocks head-to-head: Jan. 26 at South Carolina
4. Kentucky
Head coach: Matthew Mitchell
Key player: Senior Point guard Jennifer O'Neill
Last year's finish: Lost in NCAA Sweet 16, Fourth in SEC
Gamecocks head-to-head: Jan. 11 at South Carolina, March 1 at Kentucky
5. LSU
Head coach: Nikki Caldwell
Key player: Junior Guard Danielle Ballard
Last year's finish: Lost in NCAA Sweet 16, Seventh in SEC
Gamecocks head-to-head: Jan. 4 at LSU, Feb. 12 at South Carolina
6. Vanderbilt
7. Georgia
8. Arkansas
9. Mississippi State
10. Florida
11. Auburn
12. Missouri
13. Alabama
14. Ole Miss