Sports
From the Desk of Jeremiah Donati, No. 4 – University of South Carolina Athletics
South Carolina Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around Gamecock Athletics DEAR GAMECOCKS: As we approach the end of the academic and athletic year, there’s a lot our student-athletes and department continue to accomplish, and I want to take some time to provide those updates to you! CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES While the business of […]

South Carolina Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around Gamecock Athletics
DEAR GAMECOCKS:
As we approach the end of the academic and athletic year, there’s a lot our student-athletes and department continue to accomplish, and I want to take some time to provide those updates to you!
CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES
While the business of college sports continues to evolve, the value of a college degree remains constant. At South Carolina, we take pride in preparing our student-athletes for life beyond graduation.
Our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom. With the combined results of the Fall and Winter SEC Academic Honor Rolls, South Carolina leads the conference with 215 student-athletes honored.
Last Thursday, I had the privilege of participating in the annual Senior Ring Ceremony to present our graduating student-athletes with their rings. On Friday and Saturday, 107 Gamecock student-athletes took part in commencement exercises.
THIS IS OUR STATE
For the sixth time in the last seven years, we captured the Palmetto Series, presented by the SC Education Lottery, with a final score of 7-4. Carolina earned points against Clemson in football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s golf, volleyball and secured the point for the most LIFE Scholarship recipients to bring the title back home to Columbia. I am excited about our momentum going into next year’s Palmetto Series!
WORKING WITH THE BEST
Today, we announced a multi-year partnership with Legends, a global premium experience company. As part of this partnership, Legends will oversee premium seating and support ticket sales and fundraising for the renovated Williams-Brice Stadium. Legends has worked with over 90% of Power Four university athletics departments in the past 15 years, and we’re thrilled to join their roster of partners.
SEC CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to our women’s golf program who, on April 18, captured their second SEC title and first since 2002, joining women’s basketball and equestrian as SEC Champions this year.
Additionally, Sophie Verzyl captured the SEC Championship in the 3-meter diving event and JaMessia Ford repeated as the SEC Indoor Champion in the 200-meter sprint.
A special congratulations to women’s golf head coach Kalen Anderson who captured her fifth SEC Coach of the Year honor.
POSTSEASON GAMECOCKS
Under first year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, our softball team won 39 games heading into the SEC Tournament, marking the most wins in a season for a first-year head coach in program history. On Sunday, the Gamecocks were selected as the No. 8 seed for the NCAA Tournament, their first national top-8 seed in modern program history. They will host the Columbia Regional May 16-18 at Carolina Softball Stadium.
Both our men’s and women’s golf teams earned top 4 seeds in the NCAA golf regionals. South Carolina is one of 12 schools that had both it’s men’s and women’s programs selected as a top 4 seed. Our men’s team opened NCAA Regional play on Monday and our women’s team captured the NCAA Charlottesville Regional Title last week. The women’s team will make the program’s fifth-straight trip to the NCAA Championship May 16-21.
On the tennis courts, our women’s team advanced to their 30th consecutive NCAA Tournament making it to the second round and our men’s team advanced to the SEC Championship Match and then advanced to the NCAA Super Regional for the fifth straight year.
Our track and field team will be in Lexington, Kentucky starting on Thursday to compete in the SEC Outdoor Championship. The women’s team is currently ranked sixth nationally and the men’s team is ranked 28th.
NFL AND WNBA DRAFT RECAP
We’re proud to see more Gamecocks will be representing the Garnet & Black in the professional ranks.
Five football players were selected in the 2025 NFL Draft: Nick Emmanwori, T.J. Sanders, Demetrius Knight Jr., Kyle Kennard and Tonka Hemingway. Additionally, seven Gamecocks signed free-agent deals.
Three women’s basketball players were selected in the 2025 WNBA Draft Te-Hina Paopao, Bree Hall and Sania Feagin.
Congratulations to all these student-athletes and we look forward to seeing their continued success.
Big things are in store for Gamecock Athletics. I look forward to keeping you informed about our progress and the evolving world of college sports. I remain continuously inspired by our student-athletes and the passion of our fan base. Here’s to celebrating even more success together.
FOREVER TO THEE!