In South Carolina vs. Indiana, two besties will do battle on Women’s March Madness stage

COLUMBIA, S.C. — They once stayed up late in their dorm room, talking about hoisting an NCAA women's basketball national championship trophy. Now, only one will get to chase it.

South Carolina’s Te-Hina Paopao and Indiana’s Sydney Parrish were more than teammates at Oregon — they were roommates, confidantes, pieces of a dream that never quite fit. Three years and two transfers later, they meet as opponents Sunday for the second straight year in the NCAA Tournament, with No. 1 South Carolina and No. 9 Indiana fighting to keep their seasons — and their stories — alive.

The reunion will be brief, but meaningful.

Parrish said Paopao was the first person to text her on Selection Sunday when it was announced that Indiana could play South Carolina in the second round.

Watch South Carolina vs. Indiana on Fubo

“It’s special to have somebody on the other side of the court," Parrish said. "At the end of the day, she is one of my best friends."

In Indiana’s first-round win against Utah, Parrish got an and-one foul call. Paopao was watching from near the baseline.

“When you get an and-one, you are very competitive, so you just yell,” Paopao said, “and then she spotted me and we started laughing and giggling.”

How Ta-Hina Paopao, Sydney Parrish became besties

Both players left Oregon after promising yet ultimately unfulfilled stints. Parrish, the Indiana native and eighth-ranked recruit of that 2020 class, transferred home after two years. Paopao, ranked No. 11 in that same class, followed a season later, landing at South Carolina under head coach Dawn Staley. Even so, the two remained close through shared group chats and stories best kept between old teammates.

During the summer, they have gone to a lake in Eugene, Oregon, to spend time with each other alongside others from their recruiting class.

“We’d always get a cup of coffee or a lemonade, like every day, and just relax,” Paopao said with a grin.

Paopao has found both poise and efficiency at South Carolina, ranking third on the team in 3-point percentage (37.2%) and averaging 9.7 points and 3 assists per game. In South Carolina’s dominant 108-48 first-round win over Tennessee Tech, she posted 9 points, 2 assists, a steal and a block in just 18 minutes of action.

Parrish, now a senior at Indiana, is averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds this season, giving the Hoosiers consistency and size on the wing. She filled the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists in a 76-68 win against Utah on Friday. Last year, when the two met in the NCAA Sweet 16, Indiana stormed back from a 22-point deficit, bringing it within two points with less than a minute to play before losing 79-75.

“It gave us a little bit of hope, knowing that we played them so closely last year,” Parrish said about being placed in the same bracket with South Carolina.

Their friendship has lasted through transfers, time zones and tournament runs. On Sunday, it pauses for 40 minutes. One of them will have to end the other's season — and college basketball career altogether.

“I think (Parrish) and Paopao would tell you that when the ball goes up, the stakes are a little higher,” Indiana head coach Teri Moren said. “You set aside that friendship for that competitiveness they both have.”

For Ta-Hina Paopao and Sydney Parrish, 'it's always love no matter what'

Both players know that one of them will be going home Sunday, and will never play college basketball again.

“Well, that’s sad to think about,” Parrish said. “Just thinking back to the moment we stepped foot on campus as freshmen, we were 18 year olds who had no idea what anything about college basketball was.”

Afterward, there will likely be a hug. Maybe even a laugh about the time they practiced in pajama pants and a beanie. But only one will walk off the court a step closer to a title — a milestone they once chased together.

The other will watch from the sideline, cheering her friend forward.

“I just want to see her be great, be successful,” Paopao told USA TODAY Sports on Saturday. “I love her with all of my heart, and it’s always love no matter what happens on Sunday.”

Carter Braun and Andy Mathis are students in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South Carolina-Indiana in Women's March Madness spotlights two besties

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