Defending national champion South Carolina picked to win SEC women's basketball title

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Defending national champion South Carolina is the pick to win the Southeastern Conference women's basketball championship.

Dawn Staley's Gamecocks return four starters from last season's undefeated team and have a highly rated recruiting class. The picks released by the SEC on Monday were made by a panel of league and national media members.

South Carolina was followed by Texas, LSU, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Three players tied for preseason player of the year. LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow along with Texas’ Madison Booker all received eight points. Five other players received votes.

Joining Johnson, Morrow and Booker on the All-SEC first team are Alabama's Sarah Ashlee Barker, Kentucky's Georgia Amoore, Oklahoma's Raegan Beers and South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao.

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AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll

FILE- South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley directs her team during the second half of a Final Four college basketball game against North Carolina State in the women's NCAA Tournament, Friday, April 5, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

FILE - LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson (4) plays during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - Texas forward Madison Booker (35) shoots over Alabama forward Essence Cody (21) during the first half of a second-round college basketball game in the women's NCAA Tournament in Austin, Texas, Sunday, March 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

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