These athletes have many reasons to be cocky. | Photo via South Carolina Athletics
Gamecocks women’s basketball had an impressive run this season, but they lost to UConn 82-59 in yesterday’s Championship game of the 2025 Women’s NCAA Tournament. While the team wasn’t able to defend their title from the 2024 season, they did end this year’s season with many accomplishments in the basket.
The road to the championship game
How did the Gamecocks get this far? The team entered the Birmingham 2 Regional as the No. 1 seed — their fifth straight season earning that position — and advanced through the bracket with a series of wins:
First Round — defeated the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 108-48
Second Round — took down the Indiana Hoosiers 64-53
This earned the Gamecocks their spot in the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four, where they defeated the Texas Longhorns 74-57 on Friday, April 4. The victory allowed USC to advance to yesterday’s championship game — their third in the past four seasons, which is a record in the modern college athletics era.
Kid’s Night with the Easter Bunny | 5-7 p.m. | East Bay Deli, Cayce | Free | Meet the bunny and snap photos, plus get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult meal.
Around the World with Sweet + Savory: A Chef Competition | 6-9 p.m. | The Dales Biergarten and Bottle Shoppe, West Columbia | $60+ | Sample sweet and savory dishes created by Midlands chefs, vote for your favorites, and sip drinks to benefit Palmetto Place Children and Youth Services.
The Music of Led Zeppelin with Symphony | 7:30 p.m. | Koger Center for the Arts | $18+ | The SC Philharmonic uses classical elements and a “Whole Lotta Love” to pay homage to the innovative rock band.
Wednesday, April 9
Fishing With Friends | 9-11 a.m. | Southeast Park | Free | Bring your own equipment and lure in some fun with friendly competition at a fully stocked pond.
Thursday, April 10
Full Moon Yoga Flow | 6-7 p.m. | Yoga and Pilates with Ivory Howard | $30 | Transform your mind and body with a renewing flow to prepare for the full moon.
Spartanburg is a community of artists, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and more. | Photo by Sam Dean
Imagine a place where your career thrives and your weekends are filled with live music, local boutiques, and scenic trails. We’ve found just the place. Enter: Spartanburg, South Carolina, where small-town charm meets big-time opportunities.
A next-level$9.25 million home sale broke records in the Columbia area. The 9,500-sqft home sits on a three-acre lot in Lake Murray with a guest cottage + greenhouse. The sale is a sign of strength in the Columbia real estate market, especially for multifamily homes. (The Post and Courier)
Arts
Fifteen Columbia parking meters will be fed a colorful change. The Parking Services department + the local American Heart Association chapter will install specialty paintings on meters in Five Points, The Vista, and Main Street — five in each area. The city is currently looking for sponsors to help with the initiative.
Show
Five-time Grammy-winning Christian singer + guitarist Brandon Lake is bringing his “King of Hearts Tour” to Soda City. The SC-raised performer will come to Colonial Life Arena on Sunday, Oct. 19. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 24, at 10 a.m.
Ranked
Achoo, Columbia ranked as the No. 44 most-challenging US city for pollen allergies, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America’s 2025 report. This is an above-average rating, so if you’re itching for relief, we’ve got tips to survive pollen season.
Feel Good
The Riverbanks Zoo threw a roaring10th birthday party for its two African lioness sisters Lindelani and Thabisa. The milestone was celebrated with treats, decorations, and activities. The pair has been living at the zoo since 2017 and has helped the lion population by birthing a total of five cubs.
Mansion Monday
This sanctuary in Elgin offers stunning views and plenty of privacy with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and nearly 47 acres of space. Inside you’ll find rustic charm with modern appliances and multiple stone fireplaces, then head outdoors to find trails, multiple ponds, and a saltwater pool.
Sports
Who is the most valuable trade on the Hornets’ roster? Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Charlotte Hornetswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Concert
Did you hear Led Zeppelin is coming to the Koger Center tomorrow night? Well, kind of. “Stairway to Heaven,” “Kashmir,” and more of their classic hits will be brought to life by world-class musicians, vocalists, and the sweeping power of the South Carolina Philharmonic. Snag tickets for an epic mid-week date night.*
Announced
Calling all business owners and hiring managers — we’re growing our COLAtoday Job Board, which means you can post unlimited job listings for free. No tricks or gimmicks — simply create an account and start posting your open jobs.
Answered
Answered
We asked: Which unbelievable law is a real SC law?
This pastime is only for adults in SC. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Last week, we wrote about unbelievable, but real, local headlines. Then, we asked you to identify which one of these unbelievable laws is actually on the books in South Carolina:
Fried potatoes over 2 ounces cannot be called French fries
Children under 18 cannot play pinball
Coins may not be used on scratch-off tickets
Playground slides may not be steeper than a 15° angle
45% of COLAtoday readers correctly identified that children under 18 cannot legally play pinball in the Palmetto State. The rule can be found in the Juvenile Justice Code, section 63-19-2430.
If you find this law confusing, our minds are ringing too. Some people believe the law was implemented to prevent kids from using their lunch money to play the game or because pinball was associated with gambling. Most local establishments agree that this rule is outdated, but legally, it remains a law.
The Buy
The Buy
If you’re eager to give your friends or loved ones a fun, spring-themed gift, why not make them a seasonal basket of goodies? Here’s some inspiration to get you started:
🧺 Start with a sturdy woven basket that they can reuse as a versatile storage solution.
🍊 Add this refreshing room diffuser with notes of green tea, cotton, and orange peel.
🌱 Include “The Complete Gardener’s Guide” so they can learn everything they need to create their perfect garden.
🌷 Throw in this Amazon exclusive set of floral Happy Socks.
🍬 Complete the basket with the best-selling Owala FreeSip in the fun Candy Store colorway.
If you’re shopping for Easter candy, you have less than two weeks to fill your baskets. According to DoorDash, Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs are the most popular candy in SC, and I definitely agree with y’all — I always hope the bunny saves some Reese’s eggs for me.
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