City of Columbia officials lay out preparations for Gamecock Women’s Basketball Championship Parade

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The USC women’s basketball team will be honored and celebrated with a parade this weekend after winning their third national championship. The City of Columbia will host the parade on Sunday at 2 p.m.

Many fans or “FAMS” are feeling excited as they look towards this weekend’s celebration parade for the South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team, as they finished their season undefeated and captured their third national championship.

“I’m thinking it’s going to be really cool and it’s exciting to see because it’s just a lot of national attention and a lot of different people are coming here,” said Nicholas Dolan, a USC junior.

“I’m so excited to experience it for the first time and especially the energy of jumping into the T-Coop fountain that was unmatched and it would be really really cool for everyone to be in the same setting packed together,” said Megan Meihofer, a USC freshman.

The parade will run down Main Street between Laurel and Gervais and will conclude in front of the State House steps.

The team will then hold a pep rally on the steps where FAMS will hear from players, Coach Dawn Staley, and Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.

City officials expect a large turnout for the parade. Columbia Police will lead security efforts, with the help of local, state, and federal partners. Officials say you can expect to see law enforcement scattered around the parade route and state house grounds to keep everyone safe.

“We will have a strong law enforcement presence both in uniform and in plain clothes. Of course, [as] I said previously, we’re using all of our information of points to make sure we’re aware of any potential threats,” said the City of Columbia’s special events coordinator Harold Reaves.

A Cockpit section for USC Students will also be a new addition to the parade as well. Water stations will be set up throughout the route so everyone can stay hydrated throughout the celebration.

The city is also providing free parking at garages near the parade route.

Parking will be available at city parking garages on:

Lady Deck (1100 Lady Street)
Washington Deck (1100 Washington Street)
Cannon Deck (1227 Taylor Street)
Lincoln Deck (820 Washington Street)
Park Street Deck (1007 Park Street)

Road closures are set to begin at noon with:

1100 & 1200 blocks of Calhoun St., Richland St., Laurel St.; the 1800 & 1900 blocks of Main St.; and the 1100-1300 blocks of Gervais St.
Beginning at 12:30 p.m.: 1000-1100 blocks of Sumter St.; 1300 & 1400 blocks of Senate St.; and 1000 & 1100 blocks of Marion St.
Beginning at 1:30 p.m.: 1200-1700 blocks of Main Street

Roads will reopen once the parade has ended and clean-up has been completed. Law enforcement will start bagging meters at 8 pm on Saturday and will go into effect at 11:59.

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