South Carolina coach Dawn Staley doesn't think her team needs to change much from a physical standpoint this season after getting blown out the last two years in the national championship game.
She knows the Gamecocks, who enter the season ranked No. 1 in the country, have more than enough talent to win a fourth national title.
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FILE - Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph, right, talks to guard Mikayla Blakes, center, and others during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
FILE - Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes (1) plays in the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Illinois, March 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
FILE - South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
FILE - Texas forward Madison Booker during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA at the Final Four, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
The mental side, well, that's a work in progress.
“I think mentally is where we need to be stronger because obviously I think there’s been a breakdown in our mental strength,” Staley said.
The Gamecocks remain the class of the SEC and have reached the national championship game in four of the last five seasons. They won it all in 2022 and 2024 under Staley, but the results the last two years have been baffling.
In 2024, the Gamecocks lost by 23 to rival UConn; last year they got drubbed by 28 by UCLA. Those losses still haunt Staley.
In both seasons, the Gamecocks came up with big wins against hot teams in the semifinals to reach the final, but Staley felt those victories left her team emotionally drained. She said figuring out how to have the mental toughness to “get over the top” in the final is her next task.
“We probably go a little bit longer in practice just to get them -- to stretch them out a little bit, to dig in," Staley said. “When physically they’re probably exhausted, something else has to kick in. We’re creating better mental habits.”
Staley's juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Gamecocks return second team All-American forward Joyce Edwards along with veteran guard Tessa Johnson. Ashlyn Watkins is back, along with emotional spark plug Chloe Kitts, the SEC Tournament MVP in 2025 who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
The Gamecocks also landed a huge transfer in Jordan Lee from Texas, who averaged 13.2 points per game last season. She is battled-tested having played in two Final Fours.
Alice Tournebize, a 6-foot-7 sophomore forward who transferred in from France midway through last season, also figures to see big minutes. She's the daughter of WNBA/FIBA Hall of Famer Isabelle Fijalkowski and made history as the first French woman to dunk in a game.
The high school recruiting class includes top prospects Jerzy Robinson and Oliviyah Edwards. They also have the No. 3-ranked recruiting class in 2027, per Rivals, led by Jazelle “GG” Banks and Jordyn Palmer.
South Carolina is one of seven teams ranked in the AP Top 25 to open the season. The Gamecocks are predicted to win the conference followed by No. 6 Texas. No. 8 Vanderbilt and No. 9 LSU tied for the third most votes, followed by No. 14 Kentucky, No. 21 Oklahoma and No. 19 Ole Miss.
Texas is the defending SEC champion, stunning the Gamecocks last season 78-61 in Greenville, South Carolina, a place where Staley's team had been virtually unbeatable.
Madison Booker, the tournament MVP and an AP All-American, returns this year looking to defend that title and take the Longhorns further in the NCAA Tournament. Texas has fallen in the Final Four the last two seasons.
“She’s been tremendous every day,” Texas coach Vic Schaefer said of Booker. “Our young kids, they see what it looks like to be an All-American every day because that’s how she goes about her business every day in practice, work ethic, in everything, both ends of the floor.”
Schaefer said the toughest task ahead is replacing guard Rori Harmon, the team's top defender. The Longhorns have added eight new players to the roster.
Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes was selected as the SEC preseason player of the year after averaging a league-high 27 points, along with 4.5 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore.
The Commodores also return SEC freshman of the year Aubrey Galvan, who averaged 13.5 points per game, giving coach Shea Ralph a solid one-two scoring punch.
“Aubrey and Mikayla have the ball in their hands a lot," Ralph said.
Ralph is counting on Galvan to be her coach on the floor.
“She needs to be a leader. She needs to be me on the court,” Ralph said. “Our connection has to be unshakeable, so everything that we need her to accomplish, she needs to be able to do without direction from me during games.”
LSU's Kim Mulkey added one of the more intriguing recruits in Anna Minaeva, a 17-year-old, 6-foot-5 post player from Russia.
Playing in the Russia Premier League and the Russia Superleague, Minaeva has nearly averaged a double-double. She's still quite raw as a player, but Mulkey believes there is plenty of untapped potential.
“She has tremendous footwork for a big girl,” Mulkey said. “Whoever was working with her in Russia has done a tremendous job. She has good hands. Now, let’s be real. She’s 17 years old, and she’s going to have to play against older players, and she’s going to get her lunch handed to her (at first). ... But her fundamentals, her skill level, that young lady is going to be special by the time she finishes college.”
Three SEC features three new coaches this season as Pauline Love taking over at Alabama, Tammi Reiss at Florida and Ayla Guzzardo at Georgia.
Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college basketball coverage here
FILE - Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph, right, talks to guard Mikayla Blakes, center, and others during a timeout in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)
FILE - Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes (1) plays in the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Illinois, March 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)
FILE - South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Texas in the final of the Southeastern Conference tournament, March 8, 2026, in Greenville, S.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson, File)
FILE - Texas forward Madison Booker during the first half of a women's NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game against UCLA at the Final Four, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 26, 2026--
CityVet, a community of veterinarian-owned practices, has been named to the 2026FortuneBest Workplaces in Health Care™ List, in the Small and Medium category. Selected by Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine, the recognition marks CityVet's second consecutive year on the prestigious list and distinguishes the company as the only general practice veterinary company recognized among the nation's leading health care employers.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261026996908/en/
Founded in Dallas in 1999, CityVet has built its reputation on a people-first approach that puts veterinarians and their teams at the center of its business. The company carefully selects veterinarian partners who share its commitment to exceptional medicine, servant leadership, and creating workplaces where people feel valued and supported. Through its veterinarian ownership model, these doctors have the autonomy to lead their own practices and shape the culture of their clinics, while benefiting from the resources, mentorship, and operational support of a larger network. This shared commitment to putting people first helps foster a positive workplace culture across CityVet's clinics and home office.
"We've always believed that when you take care of your people, they can do extraordinary things for the pets and families who depend on them," said David Boguslawski, CEO of CityVet. "Our veterinarian partners are at the heart of that philosophy. They lead by example, build teams where people genuinely enjoy coming to work, and create the kind of culture that makes CityVet special. As we continue to grow, we're committed to supporting those leaders and preserving the culture they've helped build."
“This recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from our people, and it's a reflection of the incredible teams who make CityVet what it is every day," added Boguslawski.
The Best Workplaces in Health Care award is based on an analysis of survey responses from nearly 222,000 employees at Great Place To Work Certified™ companies in the health care industry. The recognition reflects CityVet's ongoing investment in creating a workplace where team members feel valued, heard, and supported, with opportunities to develop their skills, advance their careers, and help shape the future of their practices.
CityVet's approach emphasizes what the company calls "Freedom Through Trust," giving local teams the autonomy to make decisions while providing the resources and support of a larger organization. From mentorship and continuing education to leadership development and opportunities for practice ownership, CityVet is committed to building meaningful, sustainable careers in veterinary medicine. The company also prioritizes open communication and employee feedback to ensure its culture continues to evolve alongside its growth.
The Best Workplaces in Health Care list is highly competitive. Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture, determines its lists using its proprietary Trust Index™ Survey to evaluate and certify thousands of organizations in America's largest ongoing annual workforce study, based on more than 1.3 million survey responses and data from companies representing more than 7.3 million employees.
Survey responses reflect a comprehensive picture of the workplace experience. Honorees were selected based on their ability to offer positive outcomes for employees regardless of job role, work status, or other demographic factor.
"Congratulations to the Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care," says Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place To Work. "People are at the heart of work in every industry, and health care is no exception. These companies show how delivering for your people drives financial performance and turns fear of the future into the confidence to win."
This latest honor builds on CityVet's growing list of workplace accolades. In 2025, CityVet first appeared on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care™ List and ranked No. 11 on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work list for small and medium companies. The company has also earned Great Place To Work Certification™, with 88% of employees reporting that CityVet is a great place to work.
About CityVet
Founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1999, CityVet is a growing community of 85 veterinarian-owned practices across 11 states, dedicated to providing exceptional veterinary care through a culture of kindness, trust, and respect. Built on the belief that veterinarians should have the freedom to practice medicine their way, CityVet combines local ownership and clinical autonomy with the support and resources of a larger veterinary network. CityVet offers comprehensive veterinary services, including preventive and wellness care, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, and urgent care, with select locations also providing grooming, boarding, and day care services. CityVet's commitment to its people has earned national recognition, including being recognized on the 2026 and 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care™ List and a No. 11 ranking on Glassdoor's 2025 Best Places to Work list. Guided by its philosophy of "Your Kind of Care," CityVet is committed to creating a better experience for pets, pet parents, and veterinary professionals alike. For more information, visit www.cityvet.com.
About the Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care List
Great Place To Work selected the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care by analyzing confidential survey responses from more than 1.3 million employees, representing the experiences of more than 7.3 million employees in 2025 and 2026. Of those responses, nearly 222,000 were from employees at Great Place To Work Certified companies in the health care industry, and this ranking is based on that feedback. Companies with 10 to 999 employees competed in the small and medium category. Companies with 1,000 or more employees were considered for the large category. Read the full methodology.To get on this list next year, start here.
About Great Place To Work
As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, a UKG company, brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and Great Place To Work Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified and receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces list.
Follow Great Place To Work on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, and sign up for the Great Place To Work LinkedIn newsletter, Culture Edge, to get the latest research on what drives business success.
About Fortune Media
Fortune is a global multi-platform media company built on a legacy of trusted, award-winning reporting and information for those who want to make business better. Independently owned, Fortune tells the stories of the world's biggest companies and their leaders as well as a new generation of innovators who are moving business forward. Digitally and in print, Fortune measures corporate performance through rigorous benchmarks, and holds companies accountable, in regions around the world. Its iconic rankings include Fortune 500,Fortune Global 500, Most Powerful Women, and World's Most Admired Companies. Fortune builds world-class communities by convening industry thought leaders for exclusive summits and conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum, Fortune Brainstorm Tech, and Fortune Most Powerful Women. For more information, visit fortune.com.
CityVet has been named to the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Health Care™ List for the second consecutive year, recognizing its dedication to empowering veterinary professionals and fostering a positive workplace culture across its growing network of veterinarian-owned practices.
