Oct. 16, 2006

Columbia, S.C. –
Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris, Stanford’s Candice Wiggins and Tennessee’s Candace Parker were chosen as the three leaders for preseason national women’s basketball player of the year. South Carolina will get a first-hand look at all three players, as the Gamecocks host Paris’ Sooners at the Colonial Center on Dec. 7, travel to Stanford for a Jan. 8 showdown with Wiggins’ Cardinal and travel to Knoxville on Feb. 1 to face off with Parker and the Lady Vols.

An expert panel of national women’s basketball writers Mechelle Voepel, Nancy Lieberman and Graham Hays recently revealed their selections for preseason player of the year on ESPN.com, with Voepel choosing Paris, Lieberman taking Parker and Hays giving Wiggins the nod. In addition, each of the writers was asked to name their top three teams heading into the 2006-07 season. Each writer chose defending national champ Maryland as the No. 1 team, but South Carolina foes Stanford, Oklahoma and Tennessee received the remaining votes from the experts as being in the top three nationally.

The Gamecocks open the season when they host East Tennessee State at 3 p.m. on Sun., Nov. 12 at the Colonial Center.