BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — South Carolina is predicted to repeat as Southeastern Conference women’s basketball champions in 2026 while Texas’ Madison Booker was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.

A panel of SEC and national media members did the voting.

South Carolina, which beat Texas in last year's SEC championship game, is grappling with Monday's news that star senior forward Chloe Kitts will miss the entire season with a knee injury. The Gamecocks have won or tied for first in the regular season in four straight years and have won the the last three tournaments.

Texas was picked to finish second in the league, followed by LSU, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Vanderbilt and Kentucky rounding out the top half of the league. They were followed by Alabama, Mississippi State, F

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