Rae Rose Media, Gamecocks Partner to Host PowHER Player Classic

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina women’s basketball, in partnership with Rae Rose Media, will host three HBCU teams for the PowHER Player Classic at Colonial Life Arena on Thanksgiving weekend. While the Gamecocks host the games, Rae Rose is coordinating the non-basketball portions of the event, which include a holiday-based community service event on Thursday and an NIL Marketplace on Friday.

“To me, basketball has always been a vehicle for access and opportunities, and our game has grown to where those go well beyond just what happens on the court,” said South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley. “I am passionate about making sure no young women who pour into our game get left behind in those expanding prospects, regardless of where they play. That was the inspiration for this event, and I’m so proud to work with Rae Rose Media to bring it to life this season.”

The tournament begins on Sat., Nov. 28, with NC Central and Alabama A&M taking the court ahead of the Gamecocks hosting Tennessee State. Sunday’s games will feature consolation and championship games. Game times will be finalized with the rest of South Carolina’s television broadcast schedule. Tickets to all games of the tournament are part of the South Carolina women’s basketball season ticket package, and single-session tickets will go on sale at a later date.

The pre-tournament events will include sponsor activations for all four participating teams as well as educational and networking sessions for potential future partnerships. Rae Rose will host a Culture Night Kickoff Dinner Friday evening for all four teams leading into Saturday’s games.

“Women’s sports are experiencing unprecedented momentum, and our responsibility is to ensure every athlete has the ability to benefit from it,” said Rae Rose Media Co-Founder and President Erica Berman. “We’re honored to partner with Coach Staley on this event, where we’ll create intentional spaces that expand the athletes’ opportunities beyond basketball. This is exactly why Rae Rose Media exists: to help women athletes turn visibility into value and create lasting impact both on and off the court.”

Two of the three visiting teams have ties to Staley with Gamecock alumna Olivia Gaines in her first season as the head coach at NC Central and Tennessee State head coach Candice Dupree a product of Staley’s Temple program. One of the Tigers’ assistant coaches, Jacob Coltrane, was a graduate assistant for Staley’s South Carolina teams 2018-20.

Staley has scheduled at least one regular-season game against an HBCU in 15 of her 18 seasons at South Carolina, and the Gamecocks have faced an HBCU in the NCAA Tournament four times. The Gamecocks have played two of the three teams in the PowHER Player Classic prior to this season, touting a 3-0 record against NC Central, including a game in the 2025-26 season, and a 2-0 mark against Alabama A&M.